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Overseas games add more charade to the circus

Since when was the Premier League struggling for revenue to such an extent that the traditional league structure is abandoned and fantasy football, to be played in an array of tropical countries, is introduced?

On par with taking drawn games into a penalty shoot-out in order to decide who would earn an extra point, as once discussed by the Football League, the Premier League will now look into the feasibility of playing a 39-game season, with the extra 10 games subject to a bidding process from cities in Asia, Middle East and North America - and indeed any other interested region.

This flabbergasting idea would seemingly initially miss a real box office hit, however. It is understood that the top five - always likely to encompass the so-called ‘big four’ of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United - would be seeded in order to avoid playing each other yet no such system would be used at the bottom end of the table. Relegation rivals could play each other, or even less fairly, one could face a club like Chelsea or Manchester United and another take on a club with little or nothing to play for.

A team like Wigan might have to face Liverpool three times while Reading could face mid-table opposition or take on an already-relegated side like Derby when the pair are in direct battle for the final safety position of 17th.

Yet the most disturbing notion is the removal of the league season from one country in an American-style move. Will it be long before franchises are legalised and MK Dons copycats appear across England? Advertisement breaks at 15-minute intervals, anybody?

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Wembley recently hosted an NFL game but association football has never yet succumbed to desire to cash in on emerging markets for extra revenue. The saturated English market is seen as the trigger for this radical idea, with games overseas both cashing in on the great interest in the Premier League and potentially boosting the domestic market with English fans taking fresh interest with their team playing for critical league points in faraway lands such as the USA or China.

The Premier League risks taking the heart out of a game already much changed by Sky television. Ticket prices are ridiculously out of tune with other countries across the peninsula, fans are greatly agitated by the reduction in Saturday afternoon top-flight matches in order to satisfy television contracts - and especially the Asian market with the introduction of the much-maligned 12.45 kick-off, and stadiums filled to capacity are hard to come by away from the big four and traditionally well-supported clubs like Newcastle.

Some will see the move as the final extraction of the game from its roots while others believe it is a natural and forward-thinking move. It could turn the Premier League into a League of Farce.

How much credibility can any league that uproots tradition and decides to play an extra round of matches thousands of miles away to increase income have? Instead of being widely respected as one of the best on the planet, the Premier League would assume a tag as an entertainment multinational. The honour of winning the league is diminished; instead, winning in South Korea is the highlight, as is the balance sheet sitting in front of the owner and chief executive at the season’s end.

The concept is not helped by the addition of an extra round of games. Players are suffering from burnout with their current schedule, so how will a long trip to another continent and an extra weekend of matches aid their performance levels? However, the most serious flaw is the aforementioned possibility of facing one of the big four three times a season and how that could influence the battle against relegation and for the European spots. Furthermore, if there is a tight two-way battle for the title and the 39th round is the final one (or indeed one at a critical moment in the season), sheer luck of the draw could decide who picks up the trophy.

“Welcome to the draw of the 39th round proper,” one could see Trevor Brooking announcing from a swanky conference room in a five star hotel somewhere near the centre of Hong Kong. “We have Richard Scudamore and Dave Richards, two of the twenty-first century’s greatest innovators, pulling the strings as always, although today solely in order to open the bag of balls which will decide who goes down and who wins the title. Richard will do the ‘home’ side - although each team of course now has two homes, silly me! Dave, the away team - although who really feels away from home in this fantastic environment! Much warmer than England and without the riffraff. Any plans to play a season out here then, Dick?”

Richard pulls out Arsenal and Dave selects Liverpool, who have finished sixth after 38 rounds. Meanwhile, Man Utd, two points behind, will take on Derby. Cue excitement from Trevor at what could happen and how a long, tiresome campaign has been wasted by Arsenal because the draw has been unfavourable. Liverpool and Man Utd have, of course, had plenty of experience in Asia and the Middle East over the last few years while Arsenal and Derby considerably less so. The title goes to Sir Alex’s side but everyone’s a winner, aren’t they?

Perhaps moving one of the 38 rounds from the scheduled season overseas makes better sense, although the model remains totally nonsensical. At least it would ensure less luck is involved concerning the random draw of little black balls and retired ex-pros with expensive suits would no longer be the ones dealing out destiny. The concept of playing one side three times and the 18 others twice has the potential to be grossly unfair and compromises the conventional league campaign of playing each team home and away. Keeping to 38 rounds with one abroad would still produce additional revenue that could greatly reduce ticket prices and the ten sides that would lose a home game one season would drop an away match the following campaign.

The initial reaction on messageboards was overwhelmingly against a revolutionary idea that would forever change the complexion of the Premier League. One commenter saw it as cash once again having precedence over the common fan, “Yet another example of money being the driving force behind the game. Do they have no respect for the sport?” Another was outraged, “Welcome to top-flight football when the fan, tradition and common sense come last.”

How much interest would there be in clubs like Wigan, Sunderland or Birmingham in North America or Asia?

The majority of top-flight clubs would need to purchase an American or Asian player in order to garner any kind of substantial support. A club like Fulham might fare better with five Americans and one South Korean on their books - as well as LG, a large South Korean conglomerate, as their main sponsor - but few can envisage clubs in mid-table or near the bottom of the league attaining a large fan base. Particularly so with Man Utd already dominating the Asian market as regular visitors there and Chelsea miles ahead in North America, with sponsorship of events like the Disney Soccer Showcase tournament.

Welcome to fantasy football: illustrious locations, titles and demotions decided by two men randomly drawing balls from a bucket, and the ‘English’ Premier League turning into an entertainment medium across the globe, going wherever the most money is and always to the highest bidder. An idea that, inevitably, benefits the biggest clubs in the Premier League. The rich will get richer and poor(er) will be cut further adrift. Yet all 20 clubs agreed to the concept, so ultimately it will be the supporter who is left in devious waters halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, having attempted to utilise the cheapest travel option to watch his side’s relegation play-off in New York.

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