RICHARD Scudamore has rejected criticism of the Barclays Premier League being boring to such an extent that he fears other countries trying to push through rules to limit its success.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan suggested earlier in the week that the top flight could become dull with only four teams contesting the title, but Scudamore believes his comments had to be put in the context of Chelsea having just recorded victory at
St James' Park.
"I don't think anyone in their right mind seriously thinks it is boring," said the Premier League chief executive.
"Kevin had just come off the pitch and lost 2-0, probably thinking about how I get to that level over the summer. It was just after the heat of the battle.
"The reality is there is no-one who is interested in football who thinks the Premier League is boring. I don't believe it for one minute.
"Why is it the most watched? The numbers tell you it is the most exciting league in the world."
Scudamore feels other leagues in Europe could be plotting to weaken the English top flight with measures such as quotas to prevent all the best players arriving.
"Another worry is European colleagues in other leagues getting jealous or envious," he said.
"I'm sure the legislators and regulators in Europe would like to see us levelled down or dumbed down.
"We would never say to the French that we like their wine but can't make it as good. Would you mind making yours worse so ours can compete? It's the same the other way around.
That's no recipe for progress. That is the thing I worry about more than anything else."
Despite a consistent top four in recent seasons, Scudamore is confident a team can break into the Champions League places.
"We've had two years of the same teams in the top four and that is the product of the Champions League, it is not the Premier League's fault," Scudamore said.
"I heard someone say there are four teams that monopolise – my definition of monopoly is when one does.
"There is no other league in the world that has four teams that capable or that strong at the top.
"It is possible for others to break in and it will happen. If I sit here for another five years, it won't be that the same four teams finish in the top four.
"Is it good or bad? It can't be bad to achieve the level of success we have in Europe."
The full article contains 428 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
