Premier League president Richard Scudamore has been stunningly defiant in his quest to add a week of overseas matches to the league schedule, in spite of opposition from English fans and nearly every country around the world. Now, however, it appears he's been trumped.FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced yesterday that if the Premier League continues to pursue this "39th Game" plan, England could miss out on the 2018 World Cup.
"I will not deny chances to any of the candidates for 2018 but I cannot imagine that when you go against the deciding body for the decision on the World Cup that you will enhance your chances. It will not be diplomatic."
That's the final whistle, folks. The 39th Game is dead. The FA is not about to let Scudamore's money-grab get in the way of a World Cup bid. Sure, Scudamore will keep rattling his saber, but if Blatter is forcing England to choose between having this 39th Game and hosting a World Cup, England will choose the World Cup. Every time.
Scudamore really has miscalculated the response to his proposal quite badly. I've seen better management skills than this at the L.A. Galaxy.
