Fans vow to present TV bosses a kicking over Premier League video games out in US
Football fans have vowed to give US telly bosses a kicking over their hopes for Premier League games to be played in America.
Broadcaster NBC, which has a £350million a year deal with the league, wants to cash in on the growing popularity of the English game over the pond. NBC executive Miller played an integral role in negotiating the rights deal with the Premier League, with their partnership first beginning in 2013.
He is hopeful “a couple” of Premier League games will be played in the US soon, on top of the pre-season friendlies already played in the country. Miller said: “We’ve had conversations with the Premier League and they’ve been very open and receptive to listening to me.
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“At some point in the future, I’d love to see a couple of Premier League games open the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend.”
The Football Supporters’ Association said a similar plan was defeated in 2008. The FSA said: “We’d attack any attempted revival with a full-blown, two feet off the ground, studs to the knee tackle.”
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Premier League boss Richard Masters, says the “door looks ajar” for top-flight games to be played overseas, although there are no firm plans. However, fans have blasted the prospect of league matches being played in the US, especially in light of Premier League clubs successfully lobbying for the scrapping of FA Cup replays.
“So we can bin FA Cup replays off but it’s sound to fly eight hours for a double away game. B*****ks to the bread and butter fanbase,” fumed one.
Another argued: “Football is a religion in Britain, sport in America is something you watch while eating hotdogs and drinking beer, as almost a by-product. Moving teams to another part of the country just about sums up the difference in attitude to sport in the two countries.”
A third slammed: “It’s English football. This is a terrible idea and English fans should reject any idea of this.” A fourth added: “Not sure how the Premier League can justify this when they have just said a ‘potential’ replay in the FA Cup is not good for the players’ welfare, along with not wanting end-of-season friendlies.”