BANGKOK – FIFA moved on Wednesday to end a decades-old soccer tradition by reviewing rules that currently prevent domestic league matches from being played in other countries.
Fans are likely to object to the possibility of their team's home games being moved thousands of miles (kilometers) away.
The United States and Saudi Arabia are expected to become active hosts in attracting competitive matches from top European nations, with FIFA recently withdrawing from an ongoing lawsuit in New York in which promoter Lilevent is challenging the policy. Agreed.
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FIFA's new policy means that a growing number of European clubs, including the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1, and a wave of U.S. investors in state-run teams like Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester, will It will be attractive to international owners. City, Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi-owned Newcastle.
FIFA has now set up a committee of 10 to 15 people representing football officials who are expected to advise on changes to the rules for so-called “outside-territorial” matches in the coming months. This rule was last revised in 2014.
Since then, an attempt to bring Barcelona to Miami in 2019 to host a Europa League match overseas has seen U.S. promoters play more than just pre-season exhibition games involving the world's best club teams. was blocked because he was attempting to provide the service to
FIFA has instructed a yet-to-be-appointed working group to consider fairness and provide “advance notice to fans who may miss out on the opportunity to attend home or away matches on their home turf.”
Other factors cited by the FIFA committee include “respect for the recognized structure of international football” and the potential for disruption for domestic fans, teams and leagues hosting matches “outside their territory”.
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