Scudamore: Clubs want to play abroad

PREMIER LEAGUE chairman Richard Scudamore has revealed that England’s top clubs remain keen to take matches abroad. The controversial idea was mooted in 2014 but dropped after a fierce backlash from fans, while the prospect of taking a one-off, 39th match overseas between two topflight teams was abandoned in 2008 for similar reasons. The Premier League currently makes £1.07billion a year from overseas TV deals and £1.712bn a season from the sale of UK television rights. Scudamore said: ‘I’ve got the scars all the way up my back (from the last time). ‘Is there still a burning desire? The clubs would like to do it but we are also realistic. Until the fan, political and media reaction is any more warm towards it, it won’t happen. ‘If it did happen it wouldn’t be a 39th game,’ he added. ‘I think there would be a desire to do a round of fixtures internationally. We have no time set for it but I am a man of belief. I thought it was the right thing to do, I still do.’ Scudamore also told fans the Premier League is now about ‘global success’ as much as going to every match ‘home and away for 25 years’. The Premier League chairman believes you do not have to ‘walk down through terraced houses, smell the hot dogs and onions and dodge the police horse c**p on the pavement’ to be a proper fan and suggested overseas supporters are just as passionate as those who attend every match.