FIFA chief Sepp Blatter is set to meet the Premier League head Richard Scudamore next Thursday over controversial plans to take a 39th match week on tour around the world.

Blatter had said that such a tour would never happen while he remained in charge of world football's governing body.

The Premier League declared that an extra match week would be introduced to the calendar, with games played all over the world in locations such as Hong Kong, Sydney, Beijing and Miami.

The proposal - which was understood to have been agreed in principle to by the 20 top flight English clubs - was met with widespread criticism over both the concept and the manner of its announcement.

Many fans and local federations have initially rejected the idea out of hand, but some players, coaches and club chairmen have spoken in favour of the move, along with the Hong Kong FA.

Reda Maher / Eurosport