After the English Premier League’s proposal to play a 39th round of games around the world was rejected as both pointless and unfeasible by the teams, the English FA, FIFA and the fans, chief executive Richard Scudamore has gone back to the drawing board. His latest proposal foresees a winter world tour guaranteeing all the league’s teams $10 million.
A winter break has long been mooted for the English league, although the idea was to give players a rest, not usher them on to planes for round-the-world trips and yet more games in the already crowded calendar. But Scudamore has been smart enough to put the figure up front this time, ensuring that at least the teams’ accountants will be receptive to the idea.
The new scheme would see the 20 clubs “use a planned winter break…to go round the planet in five mini-tournaments worth £5 million plus to each club. Other options are under consideration, but Scudamore envisages a 12-day break, starting after the FA Cup third round and spread over two weekends.” The plan will be up for discussion at a November meeting of the teams which will look at possible changes to the English season’s schedule when a new TV deal kicks in for the 2010-11 season.