Apart from Chinese New Year, let me share my opinion on one of the latest football news in the world. Not the news on Fabio Capello's 1st match in-charge of England, nor Team Singapore's defeat in Saudi Arabia... but the English Premier League's global plan on holding an additional 'international round' where this extra round will be included in the league table and play various 10 matches in other parts of the world outside England... such as Beijing, Hongkong, Sydney, Los Angeles and Singapore, starting from 2010-11 season.
Well... sounds interesting where local fans will get to see a so-called title chasing clash perhaps... involving Liverpool and Man U... at the brand new Sports Hub in Kallang. But with this plan, I feel this top domestic football league is getting too commercialised... already various clubs are dominated with the ownerships of foreign buyers, and die-hard supporters are pissed with the way those American bosses "backstabbed" Uncle Rafa, and of course, the price-hike at Old tradfford... making Man U fans like upper class citizens with no passion and kicking out those passionate yet working class ones. Now they want to make this domestic league globalized and making more money, and perhaps robbing the interests of those domestic leagues in minnow countries (Think China Super League, HK first division and of course, S-League...)
Well... EPL is trying to emulate the NBA and NFL, where these major sports leagues of USA host some season matches outside North America. In future, will EPL think of setting up franchise overseas ??? Such as Singapore Slingers in Australia's National Basketball League. Will there be a team with the name like Singapore Lions, a club side playing their home matches at the Sportshub, against teams like Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham & co... just like how the Singapore team played in the Malaysia Cup in the past.
From the latest news, the local tabloids in UK has condemned this global plan... It may be a very exciting news for fans outside UK... but not a good news in terms of the pride of football in England and various national football associations which run their various domestic leagues, not to forget... the footballers who's been playing too many games. (Apart from the 38(+1) league games, Robbed of winter breaks, FA Cup, League Cup to play...and for some, European competitions and International matches...)
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