Man United chief calls 39th game “a step too far”

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has ruled out the option of playing a 39th game in the English Premier League.

The idea was first mentioned by Premier League chief Richard Scudamore last year, immediately triggering a heated debate on whether such a 39th game would be a good or a bad thing.

Gill is a clear opponent of the idea, calling it ‘a step too far’.

“If you are talking about a 39th game how do you get the symmetry? If it was the 38th whose home game would it be? How do you decide where to play?

“The domestic competition is the domestic competition. The Premier League is the Premier League in England. […] I cannot see an extra game happening,” Gill said.

The chief made his remarks during United’s pre-season tour in the Far East, which had been mentioned as a possible location for this 39th game.