Back in 2008 the Premier League aborted the idea of a 39th game proposal, but now the issue of a Premier league match being played abroad is cropping up again and this time its far more reaching.

Six years ago the Premier League was proposing an extra round of games be added thus allowing the big clubs and indeed the PL itself to cash in on the big money that it could tap into from certain foreign markets.

Back then there were fierce objections to this concept not least because it was unclear just how this extra game would be achieved

This time they are suggesting that an existing round of fixtures be played abroad, meaning that each Premier Club would effectively play one less fixture in this country, either home or away but presumably one or the other.

Supporters groups are already up in arms about this with the Football Supporters Federation commenting

"Once again the idea of potentially huge changes to the game has arisen without consultation with one of the groups that matters most - the fans.

"If the reaction to previous incarnations of 'Game 39' and the idea of matches overseas are anything to go by, we expect this proposal to be met with the strongest possible opposition from supporters."

It is early days yet and another option could be for the Premier League to extend its pre season Asia trophy, however whatever way you look at it, the demand abroad will be for the top clubs rather than the other 70% of the league and will be all about making those clubs richer whilst the rest only receive a smaller percentage to placate them.

Many would consider that this is another step to making the Premier league an elite division where 14 clubs are fed money to make them vaguely competitive in the League but are really just there to make up the fixture list rather than actually compete.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 13:04 - Oct 8 6 years ago we werent in the PL so there was little direct relevance and a greater sense of "them and us". Clearly the devil will be in the detail e.g. making sure season ticket holders are compensated for losing a home game springs to mind. However if this makes the club stronger financially and the details can be ironed out is this such a bad thing - we all want Saints to get stronger commercially so this is one avenue to explore.......

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BoondockSaint added 13:41 - Oct 8 Another scam to line the pockets of the mega-rich teams. They're the ones that will be in demand and will command the higher ticket prices and TV fees. The lower teams will be "rent a victims" much like US College powerhouses schedule very small, weak colleges to fill their schedule and stat records. Unfortunately the opponent is always one that needs a big payday (relative to their budget) to fund it's program and goes along with it. 39th game? How would the opponents be chosen? Lottery? Seeding in the standings? If it's not broke, don't fix it. Maybe this is just the big teams testing the waters for the Super League idea that their owners still see in the future.

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Consigliere added 21:00 - Oct 8 Its an interesting idea but we have to ask ourselves where the impetus for this coming from? When considering a puzzling set of facts, or a new idea comes to light, it is useful to apply the rule "First follow the money". Applying that rule, the mists begin to clear here. All football clubs are businesses and exist to make money and some are more successful than others. This is a scheme whereby some of the bigger businesses (even those that don't actually turn a profit) hope to make a lot of money. Again, all businesses aim towards a monopoly or control of the market place and this is what the scheme is really all about. A few big clubs playing exhibition matches for huge rewards. The fans - well they are just wallpaper for the television screens of course.

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exitclub added 21:10 - Oct 8 The Pre-season concept i think is just fine. If they want to tour Asia, USA etc, however to take away premier league games from the Fans that make it that special is wrong. I live in New Zealand and have travelled alot in Asia, and the overriding factor again and again about premier league football is the atmosphere and the fans at the games. People always say to me what is it like, and how electric it is. I have been lucky enough to attend all the premiership grounds and would be outraged if the English fans yet again are put on the sidelines in this regard. I understand the premier leagues wish to promote itself overseas, and I think what it should do is encourage the teams that tour to take full strength squads on tour, as we too are ripped off. I recently attended a four way tournament in New Zealand between Wellington Phoenix, Sydney FC, West Ham Utd, and Newcastle Utd, prices were steep yet hardly any of the so called big guns played or where even here. So the PL Teams can't have all the cake and eat it. Stick to current concept maybe extend pre-season to allow for this and bring full teams out.

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