Richard Scudamore may well be 'excited' at yesterday's announcement that the Premier League are considering playing a 39th game of the season in five different cities across the world.

But the chief executive of  football's most prestigious league had better prepare himself for a backlash. The project could have dire consequences. 

The 10 extra games would be made by a draw, with the top five clubs being seeded to avoid each other, and would put more pressure on an already congested fixture list.  There would surely be complaints made if a team were relegated due to the fixture, or the eventual champions winning as a result of an easy draw. It would also pave the way for even more tinkering with the established league format, for commercial gains possibly leading to some sort of European Super League. 

'There would surely be complaints made if a team were relegated due to the fixture'


The Carling Cup has become increasingly devalued over at least the last decade, with many questioning the need for two domestic cup competitions.  If there really is the need to further increase the international profile of the most successful commercial clubs in the world, surely there could be something done to the Carling Cup.

Why not rejig the format, so that it is at the beginning of the season as a pre-season tournament (like the Australian AFL Home Loans Cup).  This tournament could replace the Community Shield.  These games could be played abroad, in a similar fashion to the proposed 39th game.

The Carling Cup could run as usual for non-Premier League teams or be integrated with the Football League trophy.  The final four teams of this competition, or the semi-finalists, would then be given a place in the Premier League pre-season tournament.

This tournament could also become a tester for proposed rule changes, like video technology, a review of the offside rule, or extra match officials.

What do you think of the proposed new 39th game? Post a comment below or submit an article to Sportingo.