Ant's Rant on International Premier League

OK. Righty. I'm gonna have a real rant about the Premier League's idea about bringing matches abroad. So let me explain to you about the overview, then: The English Premier League is considering the idea of staging some matches around the rest of the world. At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games. Those 10 extra games would be played at five different venues, with cities bidding for the right to stage them. It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told BBC Sport: "I think it's an idea whose time has come. It's an exciting prospect. "It's an extra game, it's is not taking anybody's game away, and it includes all 20 clubs which is very important. All 20 clubs will benefit and there is a huge element of solidarity about it. "When the league does well, other people in the football family do well in terms of redistribution. We feel it is a very positive thing. "You can't stand still and if we don't do this then somebody else is going to do it, whether it be football or another sport. Therefore it's trying to ride the crest of that wave at the same as protecting what is good and great about what we do. "Every time there is an evolutionary step, the reaction of the fans is not always great but I would ask them to take a step back and look at the positives." The Football Association has given its provisional support to the plans. "We understand the reasons for this proposals and the benefits it can bring to English football as a whole," said an FA source. A final decision on the proposals will not be made until January 2009.

The main aspects of the plans are:

An additional round of Premier League fixtures, extending the season to 39 games, from January 2011

Four clubs to travel to one of five host cities, with two games taking place in each venue over a weekend

Cities would bid for the right to become a host, not for individual matches

Points earned from the games would count towards the final Premier League table

The Premier League's proposal mirrors moves in other sports, notably American gridiron. The Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants met at Wembley in October, the first competitive NFL game outside North America. "Globalization is a challenge for all sports because the whole world seems to be interested in the very best of sport wherever it comes from," added Scudamore. "Through modern media exposure there is a globalisation and we need to do something to make sure we are at the forefront of that and making sure we turn that into positive benefits for the game at all levels in this country." Scudamore also defended the claim that taking away the principle of teams playing each other twice, home and away, removes the league's fairness. "There is a perfect symmetry to our league but that is not the same thing as saying it is fair," he said. "The clubs will know in advance what the rules are, there will be a draw and these matches will not be anyone's home or away games. "There are a lot of things that will be done to make it as fair as you can make it. This is not a challenge to the integrity of the competition." Now let me start off by saying, it's a Marmite Love or Hate situation here. And I choose Hate. Overseas matches might sound like fun, but if you're playing an extra game and traveling those thousand miles, you're in for hell. Same can be said for the fans. How can they do their jobs then have to travel the full distance to see their team? First class! But then again, the Premier League is truly a global competition with a top load of foreigners playing in the league. And 202 countries have TV coverage of it. And it's been global for quite a while now. So it's not quite a surprise that the PL are finally doing this. But as Lee Dixon said on Saturday's Football Focus, it's an absolutely ludicrous idea. Sir Alex Ferguson and UEFA president Michel Platini are notably against the idea. But Kevin Keegan and Roy Keane have backed the plans, with Arsenal gaffer Arsène Wenger broadly in favour. "I'm not against an innovative attitude if it respects the competitive side of our league, if it respects the fans and promotes the quality of our Premier League," Wenger said. And Sunderland boss Keane also said: "It's great. Change is good but that depends who you are playing in that extra game. If it's one of the top four, I might argue." "It will give everybody in the world a chance to see it in areas where they don't get a chance to see football like that," said Newcastle gaffer Keegan. Keano added: "The Premier League has been brilliant and Richard Scudamore (Premier League chief executive) spoke brilliantly. They are looking at the proposals and do everything properly. "It's three years away and I think we should all be trying to be positive about it." Platini said: "It will never be received by FIFA, by the fans or the national associations. It's a nonsense idea. I am sure they will never accept it because it's not good for football. "In England, you already have no English coach, no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It's a joke." And Sir Alex said: "They can't keep their mouth shut down there." "What disappoints me is Manchester United chief executive David Gill said 'keep this quiet, we're discussing it' and then it's in the papers. "These issues should be discussed internally by clubs before they come to this position we are now in but until I speak to David Gill again I have nothing more to say about it." Strictly speaking I am on Platini and Sir Alex's side. Platini makes a good point: no English manager, no English players and NO CLUBS PLAYING IN ENGLAND. Abysmal. Truly shocking. Farcical. Laughable. Ludicrous. Ridiculous. Pathetic. National joke. In your dreams. Pinch me, cuz I must be dreaming.