It’s been just days since the Premier League announced that they are set to stage international Premiership matches in grounds across the world. Although at the time, there was lot of support for the plan and people started getting excited, but now that enthusiasm is waning with more and more people turning to logic and arguments to explore the proposal and its potential effects from every angle.
The Asian and the Australian football federations have firmly rejected the idea of any competitive Premiership matches being played in their territories. Asia Football Confederation president Bin Hammam says:
I always welcome the exchange of knowledge and expertise between foreign football associations and clubs, and support matches organised between AFC and other Confederations which benefit the development of our clubs here in Asia, but I can’t see the wisdom in the proposed (Premier League) plans,” said Hammam.
With relation to the overall principle, it is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in other territories other than their own.
If this principle is accepted, then the Premier League must accept reciprocal arrangements within their own territory.
Hammam’s ideas are echoed by Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy who says:
The bottom line is FFA rejects the notion of another country playing a round of their domestic competition in Australia and intruding on the development of the Hyundai A-League and the game in Australia. We said when this issue first arose last week that FFA’s overwhelming priority is to promote the Hyundai A-League and to continue to invest in, and grow, the game in Australia.
Premier League officials, are you reading this? You wouldn’t be able to cash in on the Far East on this proposal. Maybe the MLS would come to your rescue.