The clubs

Arsenal

“This is an innovative and exciting proposal which would showcase the League worldwide.”

Birmingham City

David Gold, the co-owner, said: “We are making history. We are being adventurous to take an English brand global.”

Chelsea

“This is an interesting proposal worth further discussion.”

Fulham

“It can only be good for the League and clubs.”

Manchester City

“This is an excellent idea.”

Middlesbrough

Gareth Southgate, the manager, said: “Is it April 1? It’s the first I’ve heard of it, but I wouldn’t think it would be a realistic prospect.”

Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp, the manager, said: “How do you plan an odd game? It’s going to affect the table that you play Arsenal three times, Manchester United three times, Chelsea three times. It’s money-making.”

Reading

Nigel Howe, the chief executive, said: “It would be an exciting challenge to take the Premier League into those areas.”

Sunderland

Niall Quinn, the chairman, said: “It is tantalising. It will boil down to being equally treated.”

West Ham United

“It is an interesting concept, but it needs a more detailed discussion. We look forward to engaging in that so an informed decision can be made.”

The experts

- Joe McLean, a football finance specialist at Grant Thornton, the accountancy firm, said: “While looking at ways to make the game more successful, appealing and profitable, English football must be careful not to provoke a backlash from fans and trigger disillusionment within the game. Innovation is inevitable; engaging with a global audience might well be the price to pay to afford the best worldwide talent gracing English grounds, but if the plan is to turn the Manchester Uniteds of this world into a football version of the Harlem Globetrotters, the game should think again.”

- Malcolm Clarke, the chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: “I’m fairly confident in predicting that the overwhelming majority of supporters will be totally opposed to this proposal. This is another case of the League threatening the tradition of our game simply to follow money. The idea that teams can play a league game in a place where their supporters won’t be able to go and watch them will be opposed by the vast majority of supporters. They should abandon this if the majority of supporters turn out to be against it.”