European big 4 clubs XI could play EPL best XI in in All-Star games
A Premier League XI could face the best players from Germany, Spain and other top leagues, with plans for all-star games set to be revived and matches potentially staged around the world as a means of growing global audiences.
The all-stars idea was floated recently by Todd Boehly, the billionaire co-owner of Chelsea, who also suggested that north could meet south in the Premier League. His proposal for an English twist to a popular American format came in for heavy criticism.
The Times understands that Boehly’s suggestion was one of a number of ideas kicked about by club executives — and that a more popular, and more likely, plan was to form a combined Premier League side that could meet their counterparts from rival leagues.
Staging the matches across Europe or elsewhere around the world in the summer months, or during a winter break, would be a way to parade stars to expanding markets.
According to Premier League sources, the idea is likely to be pursued along with other suggestions of new ways to keep growing audiences and enhancing overseas TV rights.
The rise of American ownership in the Premier League, with half the clubs in the division having some investment from the United States, is among the reasons for the discussions.
Some of those US investors feel that an all-star match would add to the value of the English game without any downside and can be staged without detracting from the Community Shield.
The clubs may have to wait for the dust to settle on Boehly’s initial proposal, which came out after the private equity 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 been discussing all-star plans with other clubs.
“Ultimately, I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports,” he said. “People are talking about more money for the pyramid; in the MLB all-star game this year we made $200 million (£181 million).”
Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, was among those quick to criticise the idea for adding to the strain on top players. “When he finds a date for that, he can call me,” Klopp said. “In American sports, these players have four-month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?”
It remains to be seen how soon clubs will seek to formally push ahead with plans, and what response it will receive from foreign leagues, but the Premier League has more global clout than any of its rivals, who may latch on to any chance to enhance their own profile.
As the richest league in the world, the Premier League may expect to be the clear favourite in any such matches but only two players — Jorginho, third in 2021, and Virgil van Dijk, second in 2020 — have featured in the top three of the Ballon d’Or in the past decade.
