Richard Masters reveals ‘current plans’ for the Premier League amid claims over overseas fixtures

Premier League chief Richard Masters has hinted at the possibility of England’s top-flight matches being played abroad, although he insists this is not currently on the agenda.

FIFA is reviewing its position on domestic matches held in foreign territories, a measure that was previously banned. La Liga boss Javier Tebas has expressed interest in staging matches in the United States, but the idea remains sensitive in England following the backlash to 2008 proposals for an extra round of matches abroad, which were met with negative fan reactions and pressure from FIFA objected.

Speaking at the European League’s general meeting, Masters said: “The door is ajar for matches abroad. It is not part of our current plans.” Chelsea and Manchester City, two Premier League giants, will play competitive matches in the US as part of FIFA’s first 32-team Club World Cup in 2025.

Masters criticized FIFA’s lack of consultation on the new tournament, highlighting growing concerns among players and their unions about the extra pressure being exerted. Asked about the possibility of players taking action, Masters said: “It’s reaching a tipping point. The feedback we’re getting from players is that there’s too much football being played and there’s constant expansion.

“The Premier League has not changed shape. What has changed in recent decades is the rise of international and regional football competitions. We are proud that we are different in England. We still have two cup competitions.”

“We still believe that it is up to us to determine how big our competition is. If you pour more liquid into a cup that is already full, it will overflow. That is what is happening right now, not just in terms of the calendar, but also in terms of the players’ ability to perform at their best in the competitions in which they want to play.

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“It goes without saying that if you overload the calendar and the players, at some point something has to be done.”

The decision to scrap replays of the FA Cup, which was met with widespread criticism, was taken as an attempt to relieve some of the pressure on the football calendar, which was further strained by the impending expansion of the UEFA club competitions from next season.