The Liverpool chairman, Tom Werner, says he is determined to see a Premier League match played in New York and wants fixtures moved to different locations around the world.
The concept of having domestic games played abroad is a contentious one and the Premier League has no plans to enact such an idea. Fifa, however, will launch a working group to make recommendations on the matter, taking it one step closer to realisation.
“I’m determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City,” Werner told the Financial Times. “I even have the sort of crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh and make it sort of a day where football, where the Premier League, is celebrated.”
In order to appease domestic fans, Werner suggests they can be compensated with cheap travel and accommodation in order to attend matches taking place in foreign countries. In the same interview, however, Liverpool’s owner, John Henry, said the idea was “not something that I advocate or am particularly interested in”.
Sixteen years ago the Premier League made a proposal for a 39th game to be played at locations outside of the United Kingdom but was forced to cancel it after opposition from Fifa.
It is not currently permitted for league matches to take place in another country but changes to the rules became possible after Fifa settled a legal dispute with the American promoters Relevent Sports. Fifa confirmed it had reached an agreement “pending … consideration of changes to existing Fifa policies with respect to playing official season games outside of a league’s home territory”.
Premier League clubs regularly visit the USA for pre-season tours. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool with all travel to the country this summer for friendlies. United played Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in front of a crowd of 82,262, indicating the appetite for football in the country.
La Liga wants to move matches to other countries by 2025 and many major clubs are interested in such a proposal as they look to maximise revenues by tapping into new markets.
