David Beckham has told the Premier League that its plan to stage games across the globe risks alienating fans and players. The former England captain, now playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States, said: “It would be nice for the fans to be asked what their ideas and thoughts are because they are the people that make that league and they are the ones it is going to affect. Ask the fans, ask the players and go from there.”

While Beckham can understand the logic behind the Premier League’s move to take the competition across the world, he says that the decision-makers cannot rubber-stamp the plan without winning the backing of English-based fans. “There are so many people around the world who support that league and look at it for their favourite team’s result,” he said. “So I can understand why the Premier League want to take it to different countries and places around the world.

“There are always people trying to progress the game around the world and we are trying to do that here in the USA. What they are trying to do now, by adding games to the Premiership, is to take it to different areas. It has got to be right for everyone, though.”