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Platini Ridicules Premier League's Overseas Plans
Uefa President Michael Platini has branded the Premier League's plan to play games abroad 'a joke', while two target nations, Japan and Australia, also distanced themselves from the idea.
The Premier League's plan to conquer the world by sending England teams across the globe to play out additional league fixtures could be jeopardised after opposition from Uefa and two of the intended host countries.
Irony
Uefa president Michel Platini has branded the proposal to play an international round of matches from 2011 onwards 'a joke'. "It¢s a strange and comical idea," said the Frenchman.
"I laughed because it will never be received by FIFA, by the fans and by the national associations. It¢s a nonsense idea.
"It¢s ironic. You already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It¢s a joke.”
World governing body Fifa added that they had not been consulted about this by the Premier League, stating that they would probe any such attempt to play domestic league games internationally.
Hostile Takeovers
And although the idea has got the thumbs up from all 20 Premier League chairmen, doubtless encouraged by suggestions of £5m per club on offer for participating in a single international game, the target countries themselves appear hostile.
It had been supposed that games would take place in countries such as the USA, South Africa, Japan or Australia, but Junji Ogura, vice-president of the Japanese FA, was hardly welcoming of a plan that threatened his country's J-League.
"It sounds problematic," he said. "We are, in principle, opposed to having their games in Japan as we have to protect our league and clubs. I don¢t think we will change our minds. I also wonder if playing matches abroad would really be good for the Premier League.”
Australia's soccer Chief Buckley agreed. "Our overwhelming priority is to promote the Hyundai A-League and to continue to invest in the game in Australia.”
Fan Protests
American sources are reported to feel the same way about Major League Soccer, while back in the UK the idea has been met with hostility among some managers and players and most supporters. "The Premier League have gone too far with their proposals," read a statement from the Football Supporters' Federation. "The time for football fans to stand up and be counted has arrived.”
Uefa President Michael Platini has branded the Premier League's plan to play games abroad 'a joke', while two target nations, Japan and Australia, also distanced themselves from the idea.
The Premier League's plan to conquer the world by sending England teams across the globe to play out additional league fixtures could be jeopardised after opposition from Uefa and two of the intended host countries. Irony
Uefa president Michel Platini has branded the proposal to play an international round of matches from 2011 onwards 'a joke'. "It¢s a strange and comical idea," said the Frenchman.
"I laughed because it will never be received by FIFA, by the fans and by the national associations. It¢s a nonsense idea.
"It¢s ironic. You already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It¢s a joke.”
World governing body Fifa added that they had not been consulted about this by the Premier League, stating that they would probe any such attempt to play domestic league games internationally.
Hostile Takeovers
And although the idea has got the thumbs up from all 20 Premier League chairmen, doubtless encouraged by suggestions of £5m per club on offer for participating in a single international game, the target countries themselves appear hostile.
It had been supposed that games would take place in countries such as the USA, South Africa, Japan or Australia, but Junji Ogura, vice-president of the Japanese FA, was hardly welcoming of a plan that threatened his country's J-League.
"It sounds problematic," he said. "We are, in principle, opposed to having their games in Japan as we have to protect our league and clubs. I don¢t think we will change our minds. I also wonder if playing matches abroad would really be good for the Premier League.”
Australia's soccer Chief Buckley agreed. "Our overwhelming priority is to promote the Hyundai A-League and to continue to invest in the game in Australia.”
Fan Protests
American sources are reported to feel the same way about Major League Soccer, while back in the UK the idea has been met with hostility among some managers and players and most supporters. "The Premier League have gone too far with their proposals," read a statement from the Football Supporters' Federation. "The time for football fans to stand up and be counted has arrived.”
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