FIFA, English FA have veto power on 39th match

The English Premier League will abandon plans for a 39th match on various international stages if FIFA and the English FA remain stout in their opposition.

League chief executive Richard Scudamore said the plan was not yet down, but confessed it would be scuttled if the governing bodies did not come on board.

That would seem to bode ill for the plan, as the league was harangued by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who used the threat of no 2018 World Cup for England if the league pursued the idea.

Scudamore insists this will only be the start of a year-long consultation on the project. That begins in earnest when he meets with FA officials Feb. 21.

MPs grilled Scudamore and belittled the plan. Mike Hall, MP for Weaver Vale, felt the unfairness of an extra match in that a club fighting to avoid relegation could end up playing championship contenders three times. Hall called the idea "barmy".

Australia and Japan have expressed reservations about hosting Premier League matches on their home soil. The U.S. federation said it would follow the lead of FIFA.

Manchester United's Alex Ferguson has come out against the idea.

Reading chairman John Madejski said he liked Scudamore's progressive ideas, but thought maybe the league would be better served with overseas exhibitions to start matters.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.