FIFA moves toward ending soccer tradition and letting league games be staged in other countries

FIFA recently moved toward ending decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy that currently blocks domestic league games being played in other countries.

Fans are likely to object to their teams’ home matches potentially being moved thousands of miles away, though it has become routine for United States pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia and South America that help build their brands and fan bases.

One soccer great, who has worked for FIFA presenting televised events, objected to the plan within hours.

“No. No. No,” Gary Lineker, the former England and Barcelona striker who won the Golden Boot as top scorer at the 1986 World Cup, wrote on social media.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are expected to be willing hosts to lure competitive games from top European countries, and FIFA recently agreed to withdraw from an ongoing court case in New York filed by promoter Relevent to challenge the veto on organizing competitive league games.