FIFA say they'll stop the 39th game from happening, is it time for Scudamore to step down?
Friday, 15 February 08, 04:23 AM · Comments (8)
FIFA top dog Sepp Blatter has as good as said today that the 39th game isn't going to happen and that FIFA will intervene if the Premier League try and force it through - great news for all of us that didn't want this to happen, but not for Richard Scudamore.
Now, FIFA might be stepping out of line saying they'll stop it and some might even say how can they, after all they're just a governing body but FIFA are expressing a view and FIFA are very powerful.
"This does not take into consideration the fans of the clubs and it gives the impression that they just want to go on tour to make some money," Blatter said.
"This will never happen, at least as long as I am the president of FIFA."
If Richard Scudamore had spoken to FIFA first about this and either got them on side then with the backing of FIFA you'd fancy it would go through but it looks like this is a big surprise to FIFA and as such they're suggesting it would hurt England's chances of staging the World Cup in 2018.
Now, I'm not sure why this should have any impact on the bid for 2018 but it clearly is, as long as Sepp Blatter as it at FIFA, so for me, this needs to be scrapped - the World Cup is the event we all want - not a game overseas.
Blatter went on, "Even if the FA did sanction it, all the national associations receiving these clubs would have to sanction it also. This will be very difficult.
"In addition to that, the FIFA executive committee will apply article two of the FIFA statutes: 'to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardise the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of association football'.
"This is abuse. The rich Premier League is trying to get richer and wants to expand the importance of that league."
This really does look dead in the water now and for everyone that signed a petition, sent in an email to your club or left a message on a forum or website - well done.
Now, it surely must be time for Richard Scudamore to resign.
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8 Comments · Add yours
Scudamore to resign... do I smell a new petition?
About time the daft idea came to an end. Well done Randy L for keepin out of it. Its the passion of the fans that makes this league what it is as well as the investment.
scudamore should resign for having an idea?
Wahoo! Knowing the Prem chiefs, they'll risk our World Cup hosting for their shoddy idea >:(
caleb
no, he shouldn't resign for having an idea - he should resign for having a stupid idea, running before he can walk with it and then making such a hash of it
I saw on BBC news 24 in the early hours of this morning that a football president from the far east was angered by this idea. He said that he felt it disrespected the football over there and was just an idea to make money. Also the voice over on the feature said it may cost us the World cup in 2018 and has made English football lose alot of respect around the world.
Im glad our chairman just kept out of it unlike someone across the road who said it was a good idea and supported it.
It was a totally stupid idea and totally unfair, sometimes the positions hinge on the last game of the season and it would be unfair if a team lost their place in europe because they had to play someone like United when their rival had to play wigan or something.
Heads need to roll for this idea, it is odviously a shallow attempt to make money out of the PL's success. I heard an idea about pre seasons tournaments across the globe with 4 PL teams in a table with a few of the local teams over there and thought it a very good idea.
Money is ruining football
Crap idea, crap person running it. No-one wants it and he needs to see that. Glad its going away. I heard somewhere as its an international club match (being clubs from a different country playing in another country) Fifa would have to sanction it. Scudamore get with the program.
Sepp blatter dosnt seem to like the F.A or england for that matter
I think there should be a 39th game whats one more game? not exactly affect anyones personal life is it?