The English FA have now decided to intervene into the Premier League-international venues circus and that is not going to help the Premier League’s ambition to make the top flight clubs in England play Premiership matches abroad. While most of the top football figures including FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini have rubbished the idea of this 39th fixture, the Football Association too is towing the line.
A statement released by the FA reads as:
The Football Association has listened carefully to the comments made by Fifa president Sepp Blatter regarding the Premier League’s proposal for an international round of fixtures.
This proposal has generated a high level of debate both domestically and with the international football family.
While the Football Association has given full consideration to views expressed by all parties, we must make our own position on this subject clear.
We can confirm that the Football Association did speak to Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke about this matter yesterday.
We explained that while we had received a verbal summary on the subject, at this time we are not in possession of any detailed proposals from the Premier League to pass on to Fifa.
It was also made clear to Fifa that the Football Association has some serious reservations about the proposal.
We have the responsibility to the whole of English football and we have to consider any wider consequences and implications that this proposal may create.
On Friday, Blatter said that the proposal could prove detrimental to England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup and the FA certainly do not want to jeopardize that particular chance.