UAE still game for matches

Arsenal believe there is "no crime" in plan to play games abroad with Abu Dhabi and Dubai in line to host a game.

The Arsenal player Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates scoring his penalty against Real Madrid.

LONDON // The "39th game" may be a step too far for Fifa and Uefa, but Arsenal believe there is "no crime" in the Premier League's plan to play games abroad. Abu Dhabi and Dubai were in line to host a game if the proposal, which involved international countries bidding to stage an extra league match, was given the go-ahead from 2010.

As the Football Association, Fifa, Uefa and fans' groups have raised concerns over that idea, the Premier League are now believed to be looking at other options, including switching League Cup matches and staging mini-tournaments during a planned 12-day winter break. The contests would feature all 20 Premier League clubs and be held in five different regions from Jan 2010. The timing would be ideal for the UAE, which already stages the prestigious Mohammed bin Rashid Football tournament and Dubai Football Challenge during that period.

Adrian Ford, the commercial director at Arsenal, says the international plan should be welcomed to help satisfy the craving for top-class football from countries around the world. With their sponsorship link-up with Emirates, the Gunners are keen to increase their profile and brand internationally and a winter break tournament abroad could help them achieve this. Ford said: "Clubs have to adapt to what is going on internationally. Our view is that the 39th game or something similar is worthy of further consideration.

"The whole principle is that we are popular around the world so you ask how do we capitalise on that and satisfy the demands of English football in those areas? "We know, based on the number of countries who buy TV rights around the world and viewing figures, that it is popular. If you have demands you have to try to satisfy them and thinking about ways it could happen and trying to understand it?there is nothing wrong with that at all.

"The whole international question is an opportunity, but it does need to be done in the right way. I think there is no crime in trying to explore the opportunities and options and that is what is going on at the moment. "There has been opposition [from Fifa and Uefa], but at the time it was first announced I don't think people fully understood what the proposition was and what the benefits were, not just to the Premier League or clubs, but the local territories where games could be played.

"I don't think the Premier League is doing anything that anyone else has either done, has been looking at doing or would want to do. There are different permutations to how it might eventually work, but I see the principle of looking at hosting games internationally is a fair one and I don't think it's dead. "It's not in the realms of impossiblity and something may happen, but it will take time because there are stakeholders [like fans] involved and everyone needs to have a look at it."