Premier League clubs will have the final say on whether to play matches abroad after La Liga opted to take a regular season game to Miami – and more than half of them are owned by foreign investors
Premier League executives have “no plans” to take any of their domestic matches overseas – and insist they don’t need to export their product globally.
Spanish soccer will make history this season after Villarreal and Barcelona received approval to stage their La Liga clash in Miami on December 20. However, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters maintains English soccer won’t follow the same path – despite clubs backing a 39th game proposal back in 2008 that was only scrapped when world governing body FIFA blocked it.
Masters said: “LaLiga have been very open about their desire to play matches abroad. The Spanish federation have approved it, but as far as the Premier League’s position is concerned, I’m very clear about it.
READ MORE: NFL icon Terry Bradshaw’s bizarre warning to Super Bowl champ left FOX colleagues ‘bemused’READ MORE: Travis Kelce and Jason get paid eye-watering amount for ‘New Heights’ podcast with Taylor Swift
“We don’t have plans to play matches abroad. It’s not being discussed around our table. The overall objective of playing matches abroad is to grow that league internationally – but we’re now a genuinely global league.”, reports the Mirror.
“All of the data points suggest the Premier League is growing internationally without the need to play matches abroad. We have fantastic international broadcasting partnerships, we’ve got global digital services now for fans to interact with the game and, of course, we’re investing in other things like the Premier League Summer Series.
“But I think playing matches domestically is where we’re going to stay.”
Masters’ confidence that English football’s domestic schedule will stay within these borders might not be echoed by Premier League clubs – with over half boasting international ownership.
Should a two-thirds majority – 14 top-flight teams – decide they want to compete overseas, Masters would be unable to prevent it. Eleven of this season’s Premier League sides have American majority stakeholders alone, and the US would be the primary target for an overseas fixture, mirroring how regular NBA basketball and NFL games are already staged in London.
Masters emphasized: “There is no desire to discuss this at the moment. If La Liga want to do it, and it’s within the global framework of the game, then it’ll be a very interesting thing to observe. But number one, two and three: The Premier League does not have plans to do it.”
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds faces questions as Wrexham’ shatters transfer recordREAD MORE: Alexi Lalas hits back at ‘unlikeable’ USMNT stars after Christian Pulisic comments
During his pre-season briefing, Masters declared the “lights on the dashboard are flashing green” to signal the sport’s robust financial condition.
The escalating expense of match attendance for supporters, nevertheless, continues to be a major source of frustration for devoted fans. Bournemouth supporters face a grueling 530-mile round journey through Friday rush hour for tonight’s season opener against champions Liverpool.
Adult passes in the Holte end for Aston Villa’s home clash with Newcastle command a staggering £77, while a complete adult Chelsea replica uniform will cost supporters £148. But Masters said: “We fully understand the relationship between full stadiums being part of the show that goes around the world that makes English football special.
“We’ve had a long period of flat ticket prices – some are going up, but eight clubs have frozen their prices this year, and we’re committed again to the £30 price cap for away fans. Although we can’t get involved in the pricing of kits, clubs do understand affordability.”
