AFC chief open to '39th game'

The president of Asian football has cautiously welcomed the possible resurrection of the Premier League’s 39th-game proposal – but not if it is just a money-minded exercise.

Twenty-four hours after Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore revealed that the international round was still a possibility, Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam said that he would welcome a game between two English sides in Asia.

Earlier this year, Bin Hammam ordered Manchester United to cancel their summer tour because it clashed with the Asian Cup finals and he did not want anything to detract from the regional competition.

But yesterday, he said that he was happy for a Premier League game to take place in the region on certain conditions.

“I would love to see any clubs come to my country but they have to leave some sort of legacy behind,” he said.

“At least let the youth of (AFC) countries benefit from any visit. It’s not every day Chelsea will visit Qatar or Manchester United Yemen but there must be a legacy.”