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Huge backlash with Premier League and NBC ‘in talks’ to play 39th league fixture in USA

There has been a huge backlash with Premier League and American TV broadcaster NBC reportedly ‘in talks’ to play a 39th league fixture in USA.

The Premier League is currently discussing with NBC Sports at the possibility of organising a 39th game in the US, after a network executive said he will ‘continue to push for’ the first English top-flight fixture to be played overseas.

Jon Miller, the president of acquisitions and partnerships at NBC Sports, disclosed that the broadcaster, which has held exclusive rights to Premier League games in the USA since 2013, is collaborating with league officials to develop a strategy to strengthen the connection between English football and its American fanbase in the coming years.

‘We’ve had conversations with the Premier League and they’ve been very open and receptive to listening to me,’ Miller said to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton.

‘We did the Premier League Summer Series (in pre-season) last year where we had six teams come over; Fulham, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Brentford. We had nine games in seven days in five cities around America (and 265,000 fans were in attendance). It was great.’

Back in 2008, the Premier League first plotted a 39th round of fixtures to be played across the world, but abandoned the idea due to backlash from supporters and the media, as we’re seeing again now, especially considering plans of the FA scrapping FA Cup replays to please the elite teams, while also seeing the Premier League looking at launching a new competition just for Premier League B Teams and National League clubs.

However, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters recently stated that there are currently no plans for an official league game to be played abroad, although he acknowledged that the possibility remains open.

NBC Sports has a six-year contract with the Premier League for exclusive coverage of games in the US since 2022.

This deal is reportedly worth $450 million per season, which is more than five times the value of their initial agreement in 2012, reports The Athletic.

NBC is a significant partner for the Premier League, contributing greatly to the financial strength and earning potential of top-flight clubs.

Furthermore, Premier League games have gained immense popularity in the US over the past 16 months.

The match between Man City and Arsenal in March attracted a record 2.6 million viewers across English and Spanish-speaking channels.

Additionally, over the past 11 years, nearly 40 million viewers have watched the Premier League each season on NBC.

And now a study by Nielson also revealed that 48 percent of soccer fans in the US now have a favourite Premier League team.

In addition to these developments, there are plans to provide fans with greater audio access during matches.

This would offer a deeper insight into the interactions between managers, fourth officials, players, and the rest of the coaching staff, as expressed by Miller.

He told The Athletic: ‘There are two things that really bring the viewer and the fan closer to the action: access and audio. So whenever you can increase your access and build your stars up, that’s great. And people love to hear what Jurgen Klopp is saying to his team or what he’s saying on the sidelines.

‘We realize there’s got to be some protection against that. But we think that those are the kind of things that we’re continuing to push the envelope on. And the Premier League is responsive. They’re really good when we come to them with ideas. Far be it for me to try to tell the Premier League what makes a good product. Their product is spectacular.

‘But much like we do with the NFL, and golf, we constantly have conversations with our partners and brainstorm on things that we can do to make the games better and more appealing to try to grow our audience.’

27 clubs write open letter to government asking to help reverse decision to scrap FA Cup replays

As mentioned, there has been huge backlash with Premier League and NBC ‘in talks’ to play a 39th league fixture in USA…

@FrancisChipp: Give the Americans Burnley vs Palace see how they like that.

@fulltimeopinion: I speak for literally EVERY fan when I say… FUCK OFF

@AnnemarieDray: But too busy for FA Cup replays, yeah?

@CraigPerkins17: They took the decision amongst themselves to scrap FA Cup replays and shaft everyone else based on “fixture congestion” yet drop this piss take two weeks later…. I have nothing but revulsion for those at the top of English Football 😡🤬😠

@DN35GTFC: And there we go. That’s why they want those three weeks at the end of the season.

@fslconsult: Fixture congestion, player welfare, etc. Don’t they talk bollocks? #LetThemGo

@AyJayL: I want the supporters groups connected to the club, to be on this. Ask every single angle of question to get the hierarchy’s stance. Now isn’t the time to moan about pies and colours of paint. Get the heavy questions in over this ridiculousness rearing it’s ugly head again.

@AllThingsBlades: Too busy for FA Cup replays though 🤔

@lennyb1983: You happy @fa @EFL and @TheVanaramaNL? You ruined the oldest cup competition in the world so over paid Premier League teams can have an extra 39th game for £££. We need an Independent Regulator urgently. By the time it gets passed there will be nothing left for them to regulate

@Gandermonium: Genuinely, from the bottom of our hearts lads, just fuck off. And when you get to your Game 39. Fuck off some more. And when you’re done fucking off from there to the Super League, fuck off a bit more.

@savegrassroots: Premier League clubs are playing to much football they said, so Premier League do a deal with the FA re no replays in the FA Cup and now they are talking about 39th game ? you couldn’t make this up

@DennyBaldwin: And so it begins, FA cup replays dropped because of the fixture congestion but, by the way fly to America and make a few quid for us, fucking disgusting

@Jim_Keoghan: I thought there were too many games?

@ToffeeBlue1878: But we’ve jibbed FA cup replays because of player welfare.

@nigetassell: There we go, @FA. You rolled over for them, further weakening your greatest asset, and they’ve taken the piss. You mugs.

@Bazro136: Hold on… So clubs can’t organise a money spinning friendly after the season but the PL can force a 39th game instead in USA

@DoubleOHGeordie: What happened to player welfare 🙄 suppose the day saved travelling to Plymouth fir an fa cup replay will cover the time taken to play on another continent…

@dannypea: Ah, the beauty of sacking off FA Cup replays! At least we can now cram another game in 5,000 miles away to line more Premier League bosses pockets!!!! 💰

@79Ackers: bUt We CaN’t PlAy ThE fRiNgE pLaYeRs At An Fa CuP rEpLaY aT rOcHdAlE cOs Of PlAyEr WeLfArE

@TheTipMeister_: Just rename the Charity Shield and call it the Premier League super cup and have it in USA

@AnthPatterson: How would that maintain the integrity of the league? Who would you play an extra game against for a chance of 3 extra points? Arsenal v Sheff Utd & Man City v Liverpool for example. How does that work in a tight league? Nonsense.

@Stoney1875: Oh thanks for following your team for 38 games but our away fixture to Spurs will be played at the met life stadium. Tickets are 9 grand

@Allanm1980: But will ban clubs doing post season tours due to “player fatigue” ??

@BIGC1236: @premierleague and @FA are taking the mick out of the @EmiratesFACup, @EFL, @TheVanaramaNL and other Non-League clubs! Can’t play a replay because of a ‘congested fixture list’, but can do preseason tours across the world and are now discussing U.S.A league games! #Clowns 🤡🤬

@Gareth19801: Erm……… can someone remind me why F.A. Cup replays have been scrapped?? Money money bloody money! That’s all those clubs at the ‘top end’ of the game care about. Its like a business now and not sport.

@TheDB30: But an FA Cup replay at Scarborough in January which can be avoided by just winning (or losing) the original tie is too much of an ask 🙄

@Mickeymoneychat: Imagine a prolonged fan boycott from all 20premier league clubs, similar reaction to fans of the ‘Super League’ clubs, but across the whole league. Plan would crumble in a week. Clubs won’t risk REAL games/outcomes to play in US. MOST they’d do is a reserve team exhibition game.

@wolvesbradders: But I thought all the managers wanted replays scrapped because there’s too many games?

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