WOW MADNESS??!?!
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Prem clubs 'agree' to overseas plan
The 20 Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to a radical plan that would see each team playing an extra match a season abroad.
Under the proposal, cities such as Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney, Johannesburg, Dubai and Beijing would stage matches between two Premier League sides.
The League have called a news conference for Thursday afternoon where it is expected they will confirm they are to explore the proposal of playing games in some of the world's largest cities.
A meeting of the 20 clubs on Thursday morning has agreed in principle to the plan. It is understood that the proposed overseas matches would not be the final fixtures of the season.
The idea would be to cash in on existing interest in the Premier League around the world, and the extra money generated from TV would be split equally among the 20 clubs.
The details of how the system would work have yet to be finalised but it would mean each club playing 39 games, with a draw to pick out each side's overseas match.
There would be a sporting criteria, such as league position, to decide which clubs play each other.
And under the proposal, points earned in the overseas game would count towards the final league position.
One club source said: "The Premier League is a global game now. Everyone knows how popular it is around the world and this proposal went down so well because every club would be involved, not just a few.
"The Premier League has always worked as a co-operative of 20 clubs and this would increase everyone's income, showcase the league to the rest of the world, and be exciting to those fans in this country who either want to travel to the game or watch it on TV.
"We now need the League to look at the proposal and see how we can take it forward."
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its all about $$
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'agree'? yea right
• Ferguson fury at League word tour plans
• Newspapers condemn Premier League global plan
• Harry blasts overseas game planmuch as i would like to see two premiership side play live... i find this idea utterly stupid
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$$$$$ ----> tats wat they want
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Premier plan down the Japan
THE Premier League’s bid for global domination is in tatters already after football’s emerging nations rejected the idea of hosting English matches.
Japan and Australia became the first to hit out at plans to play a round of matches overseas in 2011 as they would rather focus on developing their own leagues.
The game’s rulers in America — where the MLS league is just starting to take off — are likely to have the same opinion.
And UEFA president Michel Platini branded the scheme ‘a joke’. He said: “It’s a strange and comical idea. 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 rulers FIFA yesterday complained they had not been consulted and vowed to probe the plan to play matches in foreign cities like New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Sydney.
Premier League chairmen, with pound signs flashing in their eyes, voted unanimously to explore the idea.
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But Japan FA vice-president Junji Ogura said: “It sounds problematic. 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.”
Australian soccer chief Ben Buckley said: “Our overwhelming priority is to promote the Hyundai A-League and to continue to invest in the game in Australia.”
The idea has been condemned by fans here.
A Football Supporters’ Federation statement read: “The Premier League have gone too far with their proposals. The time for football fans to stand up and be counted has arrived.”