Richard Scudamore believes that the proposal to play league games abroad could be approved by this time next year. The Premier League chief executive did not rule out the possibility of playing more than one set of matches abroad in future years. The plan to extend the season by one match, which would be played in five cities across the world from January 2011, has been met by a chorus of disapproval from fans.
“I think it will [happen],” Scudamore said. “I think it’s got momentum, I think it’s got a huge amount of merit. I don’t envisage this being able to be expanded within the current structures. The calendar - at the absolute limit – just would not allow it. You can’t sit here and say [there will] never [be more than one match abroad].
He does not believe that Fifa’s statutes prevent the proposal and claimed that he has support. “The FA are excited by the prospect, but they can see hurdles,” he said. “Brian Barwick [the FA chief executive] thought it was a fantastic idea.”