Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has risked antagonising football fans by backing calls for the Premier League to stage competitive games in America.
US TV executives are lobbying strongly for the Premier League to switch some matches across the Atlantic in a revolutionary move that is supported by some clubs, with Liverpool chairman Tom Werner saying last month that he is determined to move a home game from Anfield to New York.
In eight years at City Hall, Khan has played an influential role in attracting the major US sports franchises to London, with the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball all hosting regular-season games in the capital, and believes that American fans deserve the same opportunity to watch competitive Premier League games.
The former Labour MP even raised the prospect of each top-flight club losing one or two games per season, which would lead to a huge backlash from fans.
“Liverpool, the club I support as Mayor of London, are currently on tour in America,” Khan told The Sports Agents podcast. “They have big fans in America. Why can’t those fans see a competitive game?
“We’ve seen other leagues across Europe play competitive games elsewhere. All 32 NFL teams have played in London, all of them have had a great experience. We have some of the top baseball teams playing in London.
“There are lots of obstacles, but I think that’s the way it’s going. It’s very important to take the fans with you. We don’t want fans missing out on more than one or two games a season in their home stadium.”
The Premier League insist they have no plans to move matches, but the decision will ultimately be taken by the clubs, who appear to be divided. Bournemouth’s America owner Bill Foley spoke out against the idea from the club’s pre-season tour of California earlier this month, but other clubs with US owners such as Arsenal and Chelsea are understood to be more enthusiastic.
La Liga are actively looking to stage some league games in the United States during the 2025/26 season and the Premier League would be reluctant to miss out, particularly given the fact that their overseas TV rights are now worth more than their domestic deal.
Following his involvement in London’s staging of NFL matches, one of Khan’s main concerns is ensuring the welfare of the players if matches are moved.
“When you look at the way the Premier League works, a lot of the money the clubs receive comes from TV rights,” he added. “The key thing for our fans is to make sure our fans don’t lose out. To make sure the games are in the right time zones, that the players are looked after when they come back.
“One of the things we learnt from American Football is that often when the players go back the next game is an issue due to time zones and diet.”
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
