Fan body promises 'knee-high tack' response if Game 39 plans are revived | first division

Any attempt to resurrect plans to stage first division Matches outside England and Wales will face “knee-deep” vehement opposition, the Football Supporters' Association has said.

Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, said last week that “the door appears ajar” for English top-flight matches to be played abroad, although there are no plans currently in the pipeline. However, a senior executive at NBC Sports, which owns the rights to broadcast the Premier League in the United States, told The Athletic that the broadcaster intends to bring the games to American audiences.

The issue was raised by the Premier League itself 16 years ago, although proposals for a 39th round of overseas matches were scrapped after a negative reaction from fans and pressure from FIFA.

Citing the Athletic article on Twitter, the FSA wrote on

Two Premier League clubs (Chelsea and Manchester City) will play competitive matches in the United States in the summer of 2025 in the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup.

As for bringing Premier League games to the United States to expand the reach of English soccer among American fans, NBC Sports president of acquisitions and partnerships Jon Miller is in favor. “A lot,” he said. “This is a point we have had conversations with the Premier League about and they have been very open and receptive to listening to me.

“At some point in the future, I would love to see a couple of Premier League games opening the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend. I know it's something we'll continue to push for because I think there's an American audience here that would like to watch regular season games. But in the meantime, we will continue to work with the Premier League to do everything we can to make the games available to as many people as possible.”