Premier League chief still keen on ´39th game´

Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the English Premier League, insisted Friday he still hadn't given up hope of seeing a top-flight fixture played overseas.

Scudamore was reviled by fans groups and the British football media in February after proposing the so-called '39th game', with many accusing him of being solely interested in making a quick profit and having no concern for the traditions and core support of English football.

But with Wembley Stadium sold out for its second NFL American Football fixture on Sunday, between the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, Scudamore insisted his idea would come to fruition during his career as a football administrator.

“This is the second time around. It is proof that the globalisation of sport is here to stay,” Scudamore said.

“We knew the reaction (to the '39th game') would be somewhat extreme and we knew it was going to be difficult.

“It would be ridiculous to say the reaction has not pushed us back if not to the drawing board, then certainly the think tank. It has probably pushed the timelines back.

“In terms of playing meaningful games abroad, hopefully it will happen within my lifetime, hopefully within my soccer administration career.”

However, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said while worldwide expansion of some kind was a worthwhile objective, the views of English supporters had to be taken into account.

“It would be remiss of the Premier League not to evaluate ways of getting the Premier League to be more tangible to a global audience,” he said.

“The 39th game just came out of the box without a rationale or mechanic defined for it,” said Kenyon, who previously held a similar position at Manchester United.

“Going back to the fan experience, nobody wanted it to happen and you have got to listen to that.”

Scudamore was on safer ground with fans' groups when he insisted promotion and relegation remained an integral part of the Premier League.

He was responding to comments from Phil Gartside, the chairman of top-flight Bolton, that the leading two of England's four fully professional divisions be safeguarded from the drop.

Scudamore, speaking at a Global Sports Summit in London where he shared a stage with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, whose competition does not feature relegation, said: “Relegation is the best thing that happens in our league and the worst thing that happens. It keeps the season alive and keeps a whole lot of interest. If a team is in danger of relegation they are living in fear.

“It is the fundamental difference why we can't copy you (the NFL) and you can't copy us.

“Our league is a ladder to the leagues below and an escalator to European competition above. The whole raison d'être of the way the league was set up is to build a ladder.”

And he cited the examples of newly-promoted Hull City and established Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur as examples of the increased excitement brought about by a system of three-up and three-down at the end of the season.

“If you look at the league the quality of football is fantastic and you have some unbelievable stories,” he said.

“Hull City are in the Champions League places. The world had not heard of Hull City until the last few weeks. The world had heard of Tottenham Hotspur and they are languishing at the bottom of the league.

“Ultimately, you have to keep interest going,” Scudamore stressed. “That is the most important thing.”