Wenger: Says it's a good idea but calls for more dialogue between the Premier League and the managers. Picture: AFP
Sunday, February 10, 2008
ARSENE WENGER believes the English Premier League's bid for world domination is tailor-made to succeed in Asia.
English football's elite league is already hugely popular in the Far East, with fans flocking to watch the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool when they visit on pre-season tours, as well as tuning to matches in their droves.
Now there is the prospect of fans in Beijing or Tokyo being able to see Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas and the rest of the Premier League's stars in competitive action for the first time.
The Premier League club chairmen have agreed to discuss a proposal to add one more round of fixtures to their schedule, which would allow them to play those additional games in five cities around the world over a weekend in January, possibly by as soon as 2011.
Wenger has given only cautious support to the plan because he is far from certain it has been properly thought through.
But the Frenchman has experienced the passion for football in Asia after a two-year spell as coach of Japanese club Grampus Eight.
"This idea cannot work in strong football countries. It would never work in Argentina or Brazil. They will have no interest in Argentina to see Arsenal vs Derby," Wenger said.
"It can happen in Asia or in minor leagues where football is not as strong culturally or implanted.
"Football is already global through television and media anyway. If I say Senderos is injured, in the same minute a guy in China reads that if he is interested.
"That was not the case 20 years ago and what is not global now is the access to see live competition.
"This is the next step. You want to promote the league as the best in the world but you have to have a deeper look at it."
Although Wenger is confident the idea would be a success in Asia, he wants more dialogue between the Premier League and the managers to make sure both sides' interests are protected.
"I can understand why it provokes a lot of resistance. There are already too many games and the solution you have is to add one more!" he said.
"We need to make sure the managers, the managers' union and the league have the same vision."
His major fear is that teams will be condemned to spend half the season travelling to far-flung destinations if the idea is given the green light.
"It would be easy to say maybe we should play in China because there are two billion people there who want to watch a football game," said Wenger, also nicknamed the Professor.
"Why not travel with the whole league over there and play there. You have to make sure it does not go into a circus," added the Arsenal boss.
"At the moment we have coaches, now we will have to buy supersonic private jets, then space shuttles next."
AFP
English football's elite league is already hugely popular in the Far East, with fans flocking to watch the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool when they visit on pre-season tours, as well as tuning to matches in their droves.
Now there is the prospect of fans in Beijing or Tokyo being able to see Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas and the rest of the Premier League's stars in competitive action for the first time.
The Premier League club chairmen have agreed to discuss a proposal to add one more round of fixtures to their schedule, which would allow them to play those additional games in five cities around the world over a weekend in January, possibly by as soon as 2011.
Wenger has given only cautious support to the plan because he is far from certain it has been properly thought through.
But the Frenchman has experienced the passion for football in Asia after a two-year spell as coach of Japanese club Grampus Eight.
"This idea cannot work in strong football countries. It would never work in Argentina or Brazil. They will have no interest in Argentina to see Arsenal vs Derby," Wenger said.
"It can happen in Asia or in minor leagues where football is not as strong culturally or implanted.
"Football is already global through television and media anyway. If I say Senderos is injured, in the same minute a guy in China reads that if he is interested.
"That was not the case 20 years ago and what is not global now is the access to see live competition.
"This is the next step. You want to promote the league as the best in the world but you have to have a deeper look at it."
Although Wenger is confident the idea would be a success in Asia, he wants more dialogue between the Premier League and the managers to make sure both sides' interests are protected.
"I can understand why it provokes a lot of resistance. There are already too many games and the solution you have is to add one more!" he said.
"We need to make sure the managers, the managers' union and the league have the same vision."
His major fear is that teams will be condemned to spend half the season travelling to far-flung destinations if the idea is given the green light.
"It would be easy to say maybe we should play in China because there are two billion people there who want to watch a football game," said Wenger, also nicknamed the Professor.
"Why not travel with the whole league over there and play there. You have to make sure it does not go into a circus," added the Arsenal boss.
"At the moment we have coaches, now we will have to buy supersonic private jets, then space shuttles next."
AFP