Could football really follow the NFL's globetrotting example?

Liverpool against Manchester United in New York? Chelsea against Arsenal in Tokyo? Or what about Blackburn Rovers against Reading in Kuala Lumpur?

If the prospect appears to have been brought tantalisingly closer by the first regular season gridiron game to be staged outside north America, opinion among those billionaires whose money is invested in both football codes is divided.

Rarely can one location have played host to a more powerful collection of impresarios with sporting portfolios to match their egos and bank balances as London's Landmark Hotel did yesterday.

And no topic of discussion was hotter than the globalisation of sport and the exporting of games beyond their national boundaries.

In one corner, Stan Kroenke, owner of four sporting franchises stateside including the Denver Nuggets basketball team and NFL side St Louis Rams, and most recently a 12.2 per cent investor in Arsenal, believes that the climate is right for the FA to take the Premier League on tour. No doubt, Los Angeles, Boston and New York would be favoured venues.

Kroenke said: "In English football, you play one game at your stadium and one game at your opponent's, so it is different to American Football. We rotate and play different teams in different years.

"So I think you would probably have a better chance of a game going over to the States because both owners could agree to it. If the PL agreed to it, you would have it done. There is a reasonable chance it could take place. It's something that would have to evolve over time. It would be great if it could be Arsenal."

Eggert Magnusson, non-executive chairman of West Ham, was equally effusive. He said: "I can see it happening sooner rather than later. It would be good for the game."

But Joel Glazer, owner of Manchester United under the auspices of his father Malcolm, and Liverpool coowner Tom Hicks, cited the unique NFL fixture list — each club has just 16 regular season games and plays certain franchises just once every three seasons — as the reason why what may work for the NFL will work against the Premier League.

Hicks said: "I don't think a Premier League game in the States will ever happen. It was one of the things we discussed in the conference this morning. Joel Glazer made the point that in the NFL you don't play every team. In the Premier League, you do.

"I just don't think our fans would ever allow it. We have 68,000 people signed up wanting to get tickets on our waiting list. They wouldn't be happy if we didn't play at home."

A Premier League spokesman said: "I don't see it happening. With the way the League is structured — on a one home, one away basis — you would damage the integrity of the competition by fiddling with the dynamic of the League."

Meanwhile, American billionaire Robert Kraft has admitted he is still interested in owning a Premier League club.

Kraft, owner of NFL side the New England Patriots, is believed to have targeted a London club, with Tottenham a possibility assuming the club's behind-the-scenes owner Joe Lewis has not already struck a deal with a Far East consortium.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING...

STEVE BRUCE

(Birmingham Manager)

"You wouldn't want to see Premier League matches going overseas every week, but anything that promotes the game has got to be a good thing for the English game.

"I really can't see the downside to the idea. In my opinion, the more people who follow the game the better."

JAMIE REDKNAPP

(Sportsmail columnist)

"Here, there is such a thing as 'a great 0-0 draw' with outstanding defending, but they want goals and action.

"I am all for the game progressing and for innovation, such as cameras inside goals to help with crucial decisions, but I'm not convinced about this."

GERRY ARMSTRONG

(Ex-N Ireland striker)

"I think it's a good idea, but international football could create a problem. Fans would be upset and disgruntled, but from a PR point of view it would be great.

"I don't think players would want the extra travel, so I don't really see it happening."

LAWRIE SANCHEZ

(Fulham manager)

"No one will want to lose home advantage and fans won't want to lose a home game. You'd have to be there for four days to promote the game, to prepare and to adjust to the time difference. And then we would probably have a midweek fixture after coming back. It doesn't really work."