Chester Perry wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:15 pm
It has been quite a while since I have posted anything about this, but the legal cases keep on going. However we have finally seen a change - it appears from an out of court agreement that FIFA have been persuaded to consider the rule about in season league games being played in alternative countries that have their own leagues. We can only assume that FIFA now see some $$ signs in this for themselves.
from The Athletic
FIFA reaches agreement in lawsuit seeking to allow domestic club games in foreign countries
https://archive.ph/WU7QN
FIFA are indeed considering changes to their statues re league games out of the leagues national domain, but as The Financial Times points out - there are other hurdles that may be a bit more complex, particularly for Premier League clubs
League matches in America? Not so fast
https://archive.ph/95k0c
- Financialt Times - Broadcast fees.png (248.06 KiB) Viewed 1835 times
Chart showing that domestic TV revenues for football’s big five leagues have peaked, but overseas rights are propelling the Premier League further ahead
The end of a dispute going back six years has reignited the possibility that Europe’s big football leagues could one day play official matches in America, in what could be a transformative commercial goal for the sport.
Fifa said this week that it would consider “changes” to policies that prevent leagues and clubs playing league games outside of their home territories.
The statement followed an agreement to resolve a legal battle with Relevent Sports. The US promoter, which is owned by billionaire Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and led by chief executive Daniel Sillman, had challenged the world governing body over its ban.
North America has become more important to European football since Fifa stood in the way of Relevent’s attempts to host a La Liga clash between FC Barcelona and Girona in Miami in 2019. Meanwhile, Fifa is ramping up preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place in Canada, Mexico and the US.
In turn, America has warmed to football. Lionel Messi wows crowds with his performances for Inter Miami while US investors have poured capital into European football teams.
More importantly, the Premier League and La Liga are making more money than ever in North America thanks to lucrative broadcasting deals.
Somehow, top English and Spanish clubs have signed multibillion dollar media rights deals without playing any games of serious consequence in the region.
Now the question is what could be achieved if the best English and Spanish clubs could play the occasional official match across the pond.
But don’t expect a quick answer. There’s a difference between Fifa changing its stance and the reality of convincing fans and politicians of the merits of going abroad.
La Liga is familiar with the debate. Players and the Spanish football federation raised concerns last time round. Meanwhile, Premier League chief Richard Masters last summer played down the prospect of playing competitive matches in the US.
In any case, the English top flight has learned about both sides of UK government power in the years since Relevent launched its case against Fifa.
The league welcomed the government’s objections to the breakaway European Super League. More recently, however, Masters has warned that UK plans to introduce an independent football regulator could undermine the competition’s global dominance.
Against that backdrop, it would take a brave league to tell fans that clubs can head off to America instead of holding matches in front of their home crowds.
For Relevent, these circumstances mean that winning over Fifa is just the first step to the ultimate dream.