Spurs fans were less than impressed to hear chairman Daniel Levy’s opinion on the possibility of playing Premier League games abroad.
In an interview with Cambridge University student newspaper Varsity, as quoted by Standard Sport (via Daily Hotspur), the chairman discussed the proposal of playing a fixture outside of England. The Spanish Supercopa recently took place in Saudi Arabia and this has once again sparked conversation over the financial gain that can be made from playing games overseas.
Back in 2017, Premier League clubs discussed the idea of a 39th game being played abroad, with the idea originally proposed by Richard Scudamore in 2008 but it was never followed through with. With some Premier League clubs now owned by Americans, they had wanted to host fixtures in the USA and it seems as if Daniel Levy is still open to the idea, as he said: “It’s important that we are always open-minded to anything that is proposed.”
Should Premier League games ever be played abroad?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to Levy’s quotes can be seen in the tweets below.
What did you expect from this disgraceful human being, the only thing he cares about is making money , get the man out of our club
— saul tad (@tad_saul) January 17, 2020
He only cares about expanding the brand that FRAUD
— 2 (@OdegaardTHFC) January 17, 2020
The day that happens is the day i stop going and following. Absolutely absurd idea
— James Davies (@JamesDavies4) January 17, 2020
Football is dead. Embarrassing when the head of the club speaks like this
— To Dare Is Too Dear (@toDAREis2DEAR) January 17, 2020
No thankyou
— ???x | Piatek Propaganda (@_10kanee) January 17, 2020
After 52 years i will ‘OUT’ if Spurs start playing Premier League games abroad. The downward death spriral continues.
— Patrick Austin (@PatrickAustin72) January 17, 2020
These Spurs fans clearly disagree with Levy and hope that football continues to be played in England.
What do we think?
The idea of purposely preventing fans from attending matches by hosting them abroad seems ridiculous but unfortunately, football is rapidly becoming less of a sport and more of a commercial business.