Soccer

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy reveals he is 'open-minded' to playing Premier League matches abroad


Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy reveals he is ‘open-minded’ to the prospect of playing Premier League matches abroad and insists 3pm TV blackout should be reconsidered

  • Levy says English football must adapt to compete for global football audiences 
  • Saudi Arabia recently hosted Spain’s new-look four-team Super Copa
  • Levy believes Premier League should end 3pm blackout of Saturday games

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has revealed he is open to the idea of playing Premier League matches abroad in the future.

The Premier League previously discussed the idea of playing a ’39th game’ abroad but plans were abandoned after widespread opposition from fans. 

However, La Liga’s new-look, four-team Supercopa was recently hosted in Saudi Arabia, and the Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona could also move overseas.

Daniel Levy says he's open to the idea of playing Premier League matches abroad in the future

Daniel Levy says he’s open to the idea of playing Premier League matches abroad in the future

Levy says English football must adapt to compete with rival leagues for global audiences

Levy says English football must adapt to compete with rival leagues for global audiences

Spain's new-look four-team Supercopa was recently hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time

Spain’s new-look four-team Supercopa was recently hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time

Spain’s bid to expand their global audience has prompted suggestions that the Premier League could follow suit by hitting the road for high-profile games and Levy admits he isn’t opposed to the idea.

‘It’s important that we are always open-minded to anything that is proposed,’ he told Varsity. ‘We are in an industry where we are competing for talent, viewership and sponsors with other leagues across the world alongside other sports so we can never rule it out completely. 

‘In Spain, they are playing the Supercopa in Saudi Arabia this year, so we’ve got to be conscious that there needs to be a balance.’

Levy negotiated Amazon's multi-million pound fly-on-the-wall documentary of Spurs' season

Levy negotiated Amazon’s multi-million pound fly-on-the-wall documentary of Spurs’ season

Levy also believes the Premier League should reconsider 3pm blackout of Saturday games

Levy also believes the Premier League should reconsider 3pm blackout of Saturday games

Levy negotiated a multi-million pound deal for Amazon to film a fly-on-the-wall documentary of Spurs season and is a keen supporter of the US tech giant’s move into televising live Premier League football.

The Spurs chief is also keen to end English football’s Saturday afternoon blackout. Currently, Premier League, Football League and FA Cup games are banned from being broadcast between 2:45pm and 5:15pm in the UK on a Saturday.

The point of the blackout, which has been in place since the 1960s, is to protect attendances at games between smaller clubs, but Levy has questioned whether it has a place in the modern game.

 ‘Personally, I’m not so wedded to something that is so historic,’ he added. ‘Just because it has always been there doesn’t mean it needs to be there forever. I think it is something that could be looked at in the future.

‘The fact there is now a third domestic broadcaster in the UK is great for competition,’ Levy added of Amazon. ‘Any new broadcaster coming in will always look at things in a different way. 

‘The way they’ve been doing their live broadcasting has created quite a bit of attention so I think other broadcasters may also look to adapt the way they produce their coverage too. Competition is good for everyone.’ 




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