News:Fifa president Sepp Blatter last night delivered a devastating blow to the Premier League's plans for an international round, dismissing the proposals as "an abuse of association football" that could cost England any chance of hosting the 2018 World Cup.
Speaking for the first time since Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore unveiled plans for "Game 39" a week ago, Blatter said the proposal would definitely be opposed by Fifa's executive committee when it meets next month.
Blatter said he would also instruct national associations to reject any approach from the Premier League to host matches, a move that would effectively kill off the proposal as games cannot take place abroad without the support of local associations.
Blatter delivered a withering critique of Scudamore's plan, describing it as unacceptable, hypocritical and claiming that to go ahead would bring football into disrepute. "This is definitely abuse of association football," Blatter said. "The Premier League says it is the best league in the world but then it should act with more responsibility.
"To try and have additional exposure and revenue by expanding the league around the world, I think this is not acceptable. It will not be acceptable to the Fifa executive committee, I am sure. We have already heard from two presidents of confederations (Uefa's president, Michel Platini and the Asian federation's president, Mohamed bin Hammam) and, if I went through the different press coverage, I have not seen a lot of support."
Blatter said any attempt to press ahead with the plan in defiance of Fifa would scupper England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup, which will be decided by a ballot of the 24 executive committee members.
"If you go against the authority of Fifa and the executive committee, then you cannot expect them to be in your favour later on," he said.
"England will not be the only World Cup bid. So, if Mr Scudamore says that (it will help 2018), let him say it. I will not deny chances to any of the candidates for 2018 but I cannot imagine that when you go against the deciding body for the decision on the World Cup you will enhance your chances. It will not be diplomatic."
The comments present a fundamental obstacle to the international round. Scudamore said from the outset that Fifa sanction was a prerequisite but Blatter insisted he would repeat his critique to Scudamore when the pair meet this month.
The manner in which the proposal was made public has also put the relationship between the two men under huge strain, with Blatter offended that the Premier League had not used any formal channels to inform him ahead of the public announcement.
The FA formally began communications with the Premier League and Fifa over the issue yesterday, with chief executive Brian Barwick writing to Scudamore to request a meeting before the FA's board meeting next Thursday.
- Guardian Service
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