Global game plan not ‘a dead duck’

PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore has admitted for the first time that plans for an “international round” of matches will have to be scrapped if they are opposed by FIFA and the Football Association.

Scudamore insists, however, that the controversial proposal for clubs to play a 39th game in a foreign city is not yet “a dead duck”.

He was quizzed by a committee of MPs yesterday — some of whom described the plans variously as “daft”, “barmy” and “bent”.

The proposal has already been blasted by FIFA president Sepp Blatter — and FA chairman Lord Triesman told Britain’s culture, media and sport select committee there are a number of areas where they have major concerns.

Scudamore, who hopes to fly to Zurich next week to persuade Blatter of the benefits of the plan, said: “Clearly we are not going to take this forward if it in any way does not meet with some form of acquiescence from FIFA.

“The FA and Football League will also have to be comfortable with whatever move we take.

“If it’s deemed not to be worth it we will think again about our global expansion.”

But he added: “It’s certainly not a dead duck — it has only just started, and we have only had 10 days of a year-long consultation process. This is a work in progress — and yes, it has had some hostile reaction ... but it’s still in its infancy.”