LONDON — The Premier League’s plan to play regular-season games outside of Britain was described as unsustainable by the Football Association on Thursday.
FA chairman David Triesman said the organization couldn’t agree with the current plan, saying it would be too disruptive and possibly affect the national team and relations with international bodies.
"It’s very important to see that we are in a very difficult climate and people are very hostile. And I think we need to try to ensure that the football family as a whole are content with any proposal that’s going forward," Triesman said after his first meeting chairing the FA Board. "At the moment we have not seen a sustainable plan to which we could agree."
Under the Premier League’s plan, the matches would be played at five venues around the world over a single weekend in January 2011. Each city would host one game on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Triesman said the FA would listen to any changes to the Premier League’s proposal — dubbed the "39th step" by British media — but wanted them quickly so it did not overshadow England’s upcoming bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Triesman said he was concerned about congestion already affecting the Premier League season, which has to fit in the FA Cup and League Cup tournaments, as well as European competitions.
"I’m very clear that we will want to make sure all our competitions can be played successfully and there is not the usual overstretch," Triesman said. "I’m very clear that we do not want an adverse impact on the England side."
FIFA has also been against the plan, with president Sepp Blatter hinting it could affect England’s World Cup bid. Blatter is set to meet with Premier League officials in Zurich, Switzerland, next Thursday to discuss the proposal for overseas games.
"We have to make sure that our international relations are in good shape," Triesman said. "The 2018 World Cup is one of those reasons and it is an important reason but it is also true that we want to make sure that we are working with international partners in a way that is effective."