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

Geneva: FIFA moved Wednesday toward ending decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy that currently blocks domestic league games...

Geneva: FIFA moved Wednesday 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 (kilometers) 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.

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.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino did not take questions or hold a news conference in Bangkok where the soccer body's council met Wednesday and agreed to create a working group to review so-called "out-of-territory” games.

So far, soccer authorities in Italy, Spain and France have been able to go abroad to countries including Saudi Arabia and China but only for their domestic Super Cup - largely ceremonial games between the previous season's national league and cup title holders.