Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has become the latest football figure to hit out at the Premier League’s proposals to stage an extra round of Premiership matches in international venues from the 2010-2011 season.
The Pompey boss hits out at the Premier League by saying:
They (the Premier League) may try to stage a game on the moon. That way it would be outside Fifa’s jurisdiction.
I think the Premier League had a responsibility to consult the people who really matter, like the supporters and the coaches.
I’m wholly opposed to the idea – like a lot of managers are. I think people were guilty of going public with the hare-brained scheme and not giving it enough consideration.
The supporters are no mugs. It’s understandable that they are dead set against it. They know one game will become five and five will become 10.
Redknapp makes another point in this saga and that is about this proposal being a directed effect of foreign ownership of Premier League clubs. He complains:
There is no doubt whatsoever that foreign ownership has been a factor in all of this.
It was inevitable in a way that at some stage they would want to take football out of this country and see it played in their own backyard. And let’s not kid ourselves, this is financially motivated.
But I think they should just hold their hands up, admit they have got it horribly wrong – and move on.
Seems like everyone is hell bent of nipping this plan in the bud. Maybe Mr Richard Scudamore would now retreat on his proposal?