12 Sep 2018 17:11:51
Ed002, do you think the Barcelona V Girona game will go ahead in miami? The only reason I'm asking here and not on the La Liga page, is if it does, I don't see the Premier League missing out on a cash cow like a few games abroad.

It doesn't sit with me right that a league game could be played in a neutral ground. That's the beauty of the league. There's no quams about the winners because technically there's no advantage.

Is this something the Premier League is seriously considering?

{Ed002's Note - I think it unlikely that the Girona - Barcelona will happen in Miami and the Spanish Football Federation are not taking kindly to their not being involved in discussions or negotiations before the clubs asking for approval. Ex-Hamilton Academicals player Luis Rubiales is vehemently against it and has clashed publically with La Liga over their already having agreed and signing a contract to allow it to happen.

In terms of the Premier League, the idea of an additional round of games - the 39th game, being played outside of England has been on and off thge cards for getting on for 15 years. Richard Scudamore has always advocated it but the Premier League clubs would need to vote and there has been a sufficient backlash from clubs that means it would never get through on the 70% rule - although the PL are slowly shifting toward a simple majority rule now.

It has been suggested that it could stop an eventual Pan European Breakaway but that would not be the case - it doesn't even enter in to considerations for those 21 clubs discussing that. Of the Premier League clubs who have given support to it in the past, I doubt any would do so now without understanding a great deal more about any proposals. The English PFA were against it, but would not have consulted the players in making that decision. FIFA were always against it under Blatter but Infantino is compelled by the thought of opening the game up further. There are plans to expanded the International Champions Cup and FIFA want to really get involved but the clubs are far from convinced. UEFA are desparate to stop the breakaway hence the alternatives being offered and new ideas that keep coming up. Much of the problem will remain unresolved without the support of the "elite" sides who remain intent on doing whatever they deem to be best for themselves.

There was an option on the table for leagues to agree to play a pre-season game elsewhere and there was support for that from many of the leagues - but the English Premier League had already struck a deal which meant the English would have to be played in Asia and a lot of clubs were sponsored by companies who would have objected.}


1.) 12 Sep 2018
12 Sep 2018 20:48:25
Great stuff ed002. Thanks a million. You've been talking about the pan-European league now for awhile, youve a better success rate than Nostramdus for predictions. This break away league doesn't sit well with me at all.

You always said that the league would have to break away from Uefa and Fifa and players would be banned from internationals. With what seems to be the slow death of international football, I don't she that as a big enough threat to stop players breaking away.

For arguments sake, let's say the breakaway league starts tomorrow? Would the teams involved run the league like a co-op, or would the whole thing be owned by a private investor?

Would the fans really want to see a breakaway league?

{Ed002's Note - It would require a new league to be formed and FIFA would use the threat of excluding players from International competition for their countries. UEFA is in a different position as it is potentially crippling for them - hence the alternate approaches being encouraged, the discussions with the “Elite” group and attempts to expand the Champions League. The clubs plan to run the league themselves and would vote in a management and administration collective to deal with issues all leagues need to face. Many fans would be supportive of such a league and would like to see games involving the higher profile clubs on a regular basis.}


2.) 12 Sep 2018
12 Sep 2018 21:51:05
Fair play Mumbles, very articulated questions and Ed your answers make us all understand what could be a complex situation. I for one wouldn’t like a breakaway, there is something beautiful about going to Huddersfield away and being drawn against Yeovil in the cup. Do you still see the pan European breakaway happening and if so what timescale are we looking at Ed? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - The clubs discussed some specifics a couple of weeks ago when they met, but there was no lengthy discussion due to other issues clogging up the agenda. In terms of timescales, I think later rather than sooner. There remains only three sides that want to push for an early move.}


3.) 12 Sep 2018
12 Sep 2018 22:06:54
Any chance of a list of teams that attend these meetings? Is it a fixed list or are all the big European teams that don't have a seat at the table trying to get one?

{Ed002's Note - It is a fixed group, there is no plan to change it at this time.}


4.) 13 Sep 2018
13 Sep 2018 01:42:39
If the premier league want a game in the USA or somewhere, I don’t get why they don’t just take the community shield game over there. In fairness we over here really don’t care about it anyway, so why not take a “cup final” over there.?

{Ed001's Note - probably because they have to make Wembley profitable. The Spanish equivalent, their Super Cup, was played abroad this year.}


5.) 13 Sep 2018
13 Sep 2018 01:26:25
Wouldn't away support be a problem after the novelty had worn off after a season or so? Having to travel to Spain, Italy, Germany etc every other week, flights, getting accommodation, probably having to take Mondays off if your games on a Sunday, it would get bloody pricy doing that regularly!

{Ed002's Note - That is a very insular view. England is in real terms a very small country and supporters in may other countries mange perfectly well when following their teams. For most Manchester United supporters they live with both Heathrow and Gatwick on the doorstep with plentiful cheap flights available to most of the destinations involved. For you and I we could ride the rails to Exeter and then jump a flight to Spain, Portugal and France as easily as Newcastle or indeed Manchester. The pleasure of an Exeter to Bergerac flight, catching a game at the rather unusual new Girondins de Bordeaux stadium, a nice meal and a bottle of red back in Bergerac before an easy flight home seems way more attactive than say a visit to Manchester.}


6.) 13 Sep 2018
13 Sep 2018 10:40:33
Like a nice bottle of Vin Rouge then Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Rarely.}


7.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 10:50:22
I'd rather go to old Trafford in the rain or snow. I'd actually rather go to Millwall than go to those destinations with the prawn sandwich brigade.
I'd get more enjoyment watching a good game of football down my local park.

{Ed002's Note - That is fine - there are plenty of others who would no doubt be interesting in supporting the club if you feel unable to do so because of the sandwiches.}