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Blatter pans English Premier League on overseas matches

Sepp Blatter, the president of soccer's world governing body FIFA, said on Thursday that plans to stage English Premier League games overseas would never happen.

Blatter also warned that the proposals could harm England's attempt to host the World Cup in 2018.

The Premier League announced last week it was considering plans to extend the season to 39 games, with the extra matches taking place in five cities overseas, starting in 2011.

But the idea has met with resistance from fans in England, the British media and the soccer federations in Asia and Australia.

"This will never happen," Blatter told the BBC. "At least this will not happen as long as I am the president of FIFA."

"Those that are richer than the others, they have more responsibility and what the Premier League is trying to do is contrary to this responsibility," he said. "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."

At the weekend Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said there was nothing much FIFA could do if the Premier League gave the all-clear to the expansion plans.

But Blatter countered: "It is not true."

"The FIFA executive committee will apply Article Two of the FIFA statutes, `to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardize the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of association football,'" he said.

And Blatter warned that if the Premier League continued with its planned overseas expansion, it could harm England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

"When it comes to a decision of the executive committee concerning this matter of the 39th round, and I am sure they will be against it, then it will not have a positive impact on the bid from England for the World Cup in 2018," he said. "I support the fans 100 percent. If I was a fan in England I would say: `No, please play at home and don't go and exercise your talents abroad.'"
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