15 Aug 2008

Blatter opposes latest Premier League export plans

9:57 am on 15 August 2008

The Premier League starts this weekend and millions of football fans around the world will be glued to their televisions as Manchester United attempt to retain their crown and the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal challenge the English giants for the title.

But FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the growth of the English Premier League could be having a detrimental effect on football in other parts of the world.

Blatter says the latest idea in the pipeline is playing League Cup games outside England is to circumvent the English Football Association, who vetoed the idea of actual Premier League matches being played abroad.

He says the Premier League is the best organised and richest league in the world, and it shouldn't be trying to take away audiences from the smaller leagues around the world.

The Premier League won't confirm it's considering exporting League Cup matches, only saying there are a number of proposals on the table.