After Todd Boehly called for a Premier League ‘All-Star’ match, Gary Neville has made several claims about the consequences of ‘Americanising’ the Premier League.
The successful US businessman took over the reins at Stamford Bridge earlier this year, succeeding Roman Abramovich. And the new Chelsea chairman is brimming with ideas as to how England’s top flight could improve.
In an attempt to enlarge revenues across the football pyramid, Boehly has suggested a fantasy match featuring the best players in the north of the country versus the best in the south.
The entrepreneur, who also owns shares in the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball and the Lakers in the NBA, told a New York conference he had pitched his vision to Premier League counterparts.
As per The Guardian, he said: “Ultimately, I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports. And really starts to figure out, why don’t we do a tournament with the bottom four sports teams, why isn’t there an All-Star game?
“People are talking about more money for the pyramid; in the MLB All-Star game this year, we made $200m from a Monday and a Tuesday. So we’re thinking we could do a North versus South All-Star game for the Premier League, for whatever the pyramid needed quite easily.”
How has the proposal of an All-Stars game gone down?
However, the idea has received some backlash. While some like the potential match-up, others don’t, including Jurgen Klopp. On Tuesday night, the German bashed Boehly’s plan.
The Reds boss raged: “He doesn’t wait long. When he finds a date for that, he can call me. In American sports, these players have four-month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?
“Maybe he can explain that. I’m not sure people want to see that – United players, Liverpool players, City players, Everton players all together. It is not the national team. Did he really say it?”
There have been positive comments, too, with some fans and pundits recognising the benefits an All-Star game could have on English football. But the Liverpool manager certainly isn’t the only one to have taken a stand.
Gary Neville slams American investors after Todd Boehly comments
The Manchester United legend took to Twitter to make his feelings known.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I keep saying it, but the quicker we get the [independent] Regulator in the better.
“US investment into English football is a clear and present danger to the pyramid and fabric of the game. They just don’t get it and think differently. They also don’t stop till they get what they want!”
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