The man who took David Beckham to the United States has questioned whether plans to play Premier League matches abroad are pioneering or pirateering.
Tim Leiweke, who was president and chief executive of Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owner of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, and now holds the same position at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, addressed revived plans for Premier League matches to be played outside of the United Kingdom.
Leiweke, speaking at Leaders in Sport at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge home, said: "Is that good or bad for MLS? Is that a pioneer vision or a pirate move? Therein lies the debate.
"North Americans are spoilt, they have the best basketball players in the world, the best hockey players, the best baseball players and the best NFL players," said Leiweike, who spoke along with his brother Tod, CEO of Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, during a seminar called 'Brothers Talk Business: Pushing Boundaries in the North American Sports Market.'
"We do not have the best soccer players in the world.''
The move to cash in on interest overseas has been discussed by Premier League chairmen at their most recent meeting but no firm plans have been drawn up.
As MLS grows, competition may not come from traditional North American sports, but from 'foreign' pursuits such as the Premier League.
Leiweke added: "Are those competitors our partners or do they see that North American landscape and want to take money out of that landscape? Therein lies the challenge for Major League Soccer.''
Leiweke, who also oversaw the revival of the 02 Arena in east London, once regarded as a white elephant, challenged sporting administrators to "dream big, think outside the box, don't be afraid to fail."
He also spoke of the potential of the Asian market and believes the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should be backed.
Leiweke added: "It is their time. It is the right place to do it.
"We need to get behind that movement and reward them for becoming such an important part of the world of sports.
"Getting past that debate is going to be something that is critical for the sport of football.
"It's time to, as a world sport, get behind that body and that bid and help them make it successful.''