English clubs' interest in playing matches abroad "has prompted the Premier League to explore the possibilities of expansion overseas," according to Rob Harris of the AP. The league "was forced to scrap plans six years ago to add an extra 39th round of matches at venues across the world amid opposition domestically and from FIFA." But EPL CEO Richard Scudamore "recently acknowledged that clubs still back the idea." Clubs have now asked the league "to conduct a feasibility study into global expansion options." They spoke on condition of anonymity "because the discussions have been in private." Although playing a regular season game abroad would appear unlikely in the immediate future, the league is "looking into organizing lucrative pre-season friendlies and expanding the existing Premier League Asia trophy tournament to other continents." ManU Managing Dir Richard Arnold told said, "That's still an area that's under some development. You've seen on the tour the engagement we get abroad." While clubs like ManU and Liverpool can secure lucrative deals for pre-season games, it "would be clubs with smaller global fan bases that could benefit from the Premier League helping to organize fixtures" (AP, 10/8).
THE BANDWAGON: ESPN reported envious eyes have been cast at the NFL, "which has successfully held regular-season matches at Wembley Stadium since 2007." Preseason tours to Asia, South Africa, Australia and the U.S. "have become increasingly lucrative and clubs are eager to tap further into the global market." The tender documents for the next TV deals, which will cover the '16-19 seasons, "are due to go out shortly and as such it is unlikely that any change could be implemented" before the '19-20 campaign. It does seem possible that the FA could follow the Italian model and move the Community Shield, "the traditional curtain-raiser which has suffered from dwindling interest from fans, abroad when the current agreement with Wembley ends" in '18. Swansea City Chair Huw Jenkins said that "while the idea was unpalatable it had to be embraced." Jenkins: "I think it is inevitable it is going to happen. While we may not be 100 percent about it, as passionate football supporters just watching football as we have it, it's going to be a big change. The other side of it is that we have got to make sure we are on the bandwagon with them or we are going to be left behind" (ESPN, 10/8). The AP reported Premier League teams are frequent visitors to Hong Kong for lucrative friendly matches, "but the prospect of a genuine league game with title points at stake being played in the city has moved a step closer." Hong Kong, which has hosted the Barclays Asia Trophy, a mini-competition featuring Premier League sides, three times, "would likely be one of the venues" -- though any change is at least five years away (AP, 10/8).
