By Chris Burton Last updated: 18th February 2008
Franz Beckenbauer feels that implementing an international round of Premier League fixtures could damage England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has already blasted the proposals and executive committee member Beckenbauer believes that if England have realistic ambitions of hosting football's biggest event in the future, then they need to ensure that they do nothing to upset the sport's governing body in the mean time.
The German legend admits that he can see the positives of taking top-flight football abroad but feels that it is an idea which is just not feasible at present.
"If Fifa is against this idea to put Premier League games outside the country, I wouldn't do it," Beckenbauer said.
"The decision on who gets the World Cup 2018 will happen very soon and England are one of the favourites. At this time I wouldn't be so cocky as to go against Fifa.
"In this period if you want to be the World Cup hosts you have to get hand-in-hand with Fifa, otherwise you don't get the chance."
Beckenbauer did propose that in the future it may be possible to take one-off games such as the FA Cup final abroad, but admitted that even then he still has reservations about how such fixtures would be organised.
"It's a good idea that with important games such as the FA Cup final, instead of playing at Wembley play it in Beijing or in Shanghai or wherever.
"I think it's a good idea from the clubs. I realise from the comment of the Fifa president that he doesn't like it much.
"He realises these games disturb the market but it is great promotion for important games in the Premier League being played outside the country.
"The idea is not bad. But I don't know if it works. Manchester United and Arsenal have a lot of fans but how do they get to Sydney?
"It's a good idea to export your football but practically I don't know."
One proposal currently being banded about that Beckenbauer is in favour of is that of the implementation of 'six-plus-five rule' to help curb the amount of foreign players currently plying their trade in Europe's top divisions.
He feels that it would definitely help young players to be given more of a chance at big clubs, but admits that it would be difficult to implement due to current European legislation.
"England is suffering because of the situation, (in) Germany it is the same," he said.
"In all the major leagues in Europe they have the same problem and the youngsters have problems getting through because most of the teams prefer to buy foreigners.
"It's cheaper and probably easier and then they are not patient enough to wait for a 16, 17, 18-year-old boy to get to the first team.
"It could be a good solution (the six-plus-five rule). It is very controversial. You can say we are living in a global world and the markets are open, and football tries to go back to the old status to reduce, to have a six-plus-five regulation instead of opening the market.
"That is one side, the other side is to save the whole market."

Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fuller and Sorensen
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan - Defoe
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Pulis
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Shreeves' blog
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Hart
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan - Redknapp
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan - Martinez
Bolton 0-2 Blackburn - Megson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| 13:30 | Everton vs Liverpool |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Bolton |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 9 - 1 Wigan | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Hull 3 - 3 West Ham | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Everton | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Fulham | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 13 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 13 | 28 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 13 | 20 |
| 9 | Burnley | 13 | 17 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 12 | 15 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 13 | 15 |
| 13 | Everton | 12 | 15 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 16 | Hull City | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 13 | 11 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Take a look back at what Liverpool and Man City fans had to say following a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Jermain Defoe helped himself to five goals as Tottenham demolished Wigan 9-1 at White Hart Lane to move into fourth spot in the table.
Paul Hart played down the injury to David James prior to Portsmouth's 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Sunday.
Stoke collected all three points against Portsmouth thanks to a late strike from Ricardo Fuller.
Bolton squandered the chance to climb out of the bottom three as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Blackburn.
Tony Pulis put Stoke's poor first-half performance against Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium down to nerves.