Chief Executive Officer of Premier League, Richard Masters says there are no plans to play a top-flight match abroad and the idea is “not anywhere near my in-tray”.
The idea of the Premier League playing an extra round – the ’39th game’ – outside England was raised in 2008 but the plans were shelved after criticism from fans and the media.
And, despite former Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore saying 10 years ago that clubs were keen on the idea, Masters has downplayed such a scenario.
“I don’t think it changes the Premier League’s view on this at all, we don’t have any plans to play matches abroad,” he said.
“It’s not anywhere near my in-tray and it’s not a debate around our table.”
Masters added: “The first thing to say is it hasn’t happened yet. You need a whole bunch of things to happen.
“The Premier League flirted with this over a decade ago and the reason was to grow the league internationally and we were able to do this through different means – digital means, broadcast partners, concepts like the summer series in the US.
“The necessity that was driving that concept has dissipated.”
Premier League champions Liverpool get the 2025-26 campaign started with their home fixture against Bournemouth at Friday with Masters predicting “a great season”.
