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The Premiership remains defiant over its controversial proposal to introduce an 'international round' of fixtures, despite being told by the FA board that the plan is not sustainable in its present format. Richard Scudamore, the Premiership chief executive, remains fiercely committed to the idea. However, Lord Triesman, formerly a left inclined trade union leader and now the FA's new independent chairman, has made it clear that he is worried about the proposal drifting on in case it impairs the launch of the FA's World Cup bid. If the Premiership has anything to say about changes to the plans or new variants he would 'prefer it happened sooner rather than later'. For his part Scudamore chooses not to interpret the FA's response as a setback but a kind of conditional approval which is, to say the least, a contestable interpretation of the FA's stance. Possibly an even bigger problem is that the two Premiership clubs with the largest global fanbase, Chelsea and Manchester United, are both opposed to the proposal, as is Liverpool.
What particularly concerns clubs is that a 39th game would destroy the symmetry of the competition and thus the fairness of a league founded on the principle of all clubs playing each other home and away. Scudamore feels that this argument is at odds with the widespread acceptance of the play-offs in the Football League for more than two decades. However, this overlooks the fact that these are a supplementary competition designed to maintain interest in the season (recent research has confirmed that they do boost attendance). Scudamore also points to the 'split league format' in the Scottish League whereby the league divides in two after 33 matches, leaving teams to play only those in their half of the table for the remainder of the campaign. However that scheme reflects the lack of real competition in Scottish football and gives the Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs more chances to play each other. It is probably not so beneficial for clubs in the bottom half of the table.
One is tempted to remind Mr Scudamore of the old adage, 'when in a hole stop digging'. Alternatively, the Premiership could come up with a modified scheme that allowed teams to choose to play a particular fixture (one a season) abroad. Or one could shift some Carling Cup fixtures abroad, although punters there might feel ripped off at seeing a reserve side or youth team.
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