Scudamore rejects England theory

29 July 2013 07:46

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has told the Football Association to look at itself before blaming him for England's problems.

England boss Roy Hodgson was furious when he discovered Manchester United's trip to Liverpool and the first north London derby of the season had been scheduled for the weekend before the key World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, which take place at the beginning of September.

Perceived Premier League intransigence on the matter was thrown in with the diminishing number of English players in the top flight as evidence Scudamore and his top clubs do not care about the national side.

It is an argument Scudamore rejects, claiming the FA finds it too easy to blame others for England's failings rather than looking at itself.

"It seems to me that if England don't win something it is someone else's fault," said Scudamore.

"I have never, in my 15 years with the Premier League, said the competition's success, or lack of, is someone else's fault.

"We have not won the World Cup since 1966. The Premier League didn't start until 1992. What happened between 1966 and 1992? Whose fault was that?

"Let's run the reverse argument.

"Where does that leave the people at the FA in terms of their accountability?

"It frustrates me enormously because it is so palpably not true. It cannot be our fault on any level."

Source: PA