Speaking for the first time since the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, unveiled plans for “Game 39”, Sepp Blatter said the proposal would be opposed by FIFA’s executive committee when it meets next month. By Paul Kelso.
The FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, delivered a devastating blow to the Premier League’s plans for an international round, dismissing the proposals as “an abuse of association football” that could cost England any chance of hosting the 2018 World Cup.
Speaking for the first time since the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, unveiled plans for “Game 39”, Blatter said the proposal would be opposed by FIFA’s executive committee when it meets next month. The FIFA president said he would also instruct national associations to reject any approach from the Premier League to host matches, a move that would kill off the proposal as games cannot take place abroad without the support of local associations.
Blatter delivered a withering critique of Scudamore’s plan, describing it as unacceptable, hypocritical and claiming that to go ahead would bring football into disrepute. “This is definitely abuse of association football,” Blatter said. “The Premier League says it is the best league in the world but then it should act with more responsibility.
“To try and have additional exposure and revenue by expanding the league around the world, I think this is not acceptable. It will not be acceptable to the FIFA executive committee, I am sure. We have already heard from two presidents of confederations (UEFA’s Michel Platini and Asia’s Mohamed bin Hammam) and, if I went through the different press coverage, I have not seen a lot of support.”
Blatter said any attempt to press ahead with the plan in defiance of FIFA would scupper England’s chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup, which will be decided by a ballot of the 24 executive committee members. “If you go against the authority of FIFA and the executive committee, then you cannot expect them to be in your favour later on,” he said.
“England will not be the only World Cup bid. So, if Mr Scudamore says that (it will help 2018), let him say it. I will not deny chances to any of the candidates for 2018, but I cannot imagine that when you go against the deciding body for the decision on the World Cup that you will enhance your chances. It will not be diplomatic.”
The comments present a fundamental obstacle to the international round. Scudamore said from the outset that FIFA sanction was a prerequisite but Blatter insisted he would repeat his critique when the pair meet this month.
The manner in which the proposal was made public has put relations under strain, with Blatter offended that the Premier League had not informed him ahead of the announcement. Scudamore was appointed to FIFA’s strategy council last year but that seat may now be in doubt.
The Football Association formally began communications with the Premier League and FIFA over the issue.
“So far as I know from the FA in London, we have not received any official message. We have not been contacted before by the league to ask us what we think of this idea. You speak about rude but I think it is irresponsible,” Blatter said.
The FIFA president’s verdict comes at the end of a week of largely negative comment from those inside football. Supporters’ groups are opposed and several managers have come out in opposition. Rafa Benitez has joined them, calling the 39th game “uncompetitive”. The reaction from the FA and the government has been more guarded but Blatter’s threat to the World Cup bid is likely to cause alarm in Downing Street and Soho Square.
Developments will also be watched closely by Rupert Murdoch, whose business associate Sir Rod Eddington has emerged as a key figure in the proposal. Eddington, who runs an event management company based in Melbourne keen to bid for games, is a director of Murdoch’s News Corporation board and his involvement has raised suspicions inside FIFA that the Australian mogul is using the Premier League to expand his football empire.
“The wedding between TV and football has been profitable to football but there must be somewhere a limit,” said Blatter. “If only Fox and Sky and a Murdoch organisation (is showing games), then Mr. Murdoch should feel he is stripping the shirt a little bit too much. If he (Murdoch) is involved, then partnership means you should respect the other side.”
“We look forward to the opportunity to meet with FIFA to discuss this matter,” said a Premier League spokesman. “This was always the starting point in relation to sanction, and as such we will be making no further comment until after that time.”
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