Premier League discussing money-spinning All-Star match against a combined European XI

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly’s push to have an All-Star match is gaining traction, though fellow Premier League executives would rather take on a combined European XI instead.

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American billionaire Boehly faced criticism earlier this month when he suggested a North vs South Premier League All-Star match to be played during the off-season – likely overseas.

Despite the backlash – which saw Jamie Carragher label the Chelsea owner as ‘arrogant’ – the Premier League are open to the idea and, according to The Times, have been discussing what guise it might take.

Boehly’s version of how an All-Star match might work was just one of a number of ideas deliberated by Premier League club executives recently, and there was one proposal that stood out.

Rather than having an ‘in-house’ face-off between two teams made up of an assortment of players from England’s top-flight, a more popular plan was to form a combined Premier League XI to take on Europe.

That match-up could either see a Premier League XI take on a best XI from one specific league, or a combined XI from the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and other top divisions.

In theory, therefore, a Premier League All-Star XI could come up against a European side featuring Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, PSG’s Lionel Messi, Inter’s Milan Skriniar and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, among others.

Such a contest would surely have broadcasters and even fans salivating at the prospect and the All-Star match is increasingly seen as an idea worth pursuing in order to grow audiences – particularly younger viewers – and enhance overseas TV rights.

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