Football
ESPN staff 10y

Community Shield could go abroad

Football Association general secretary Alex Horne has suggested the Community Shield could be played abroad in the future.

The season curtain-raiser takes place the week before the start of the new Premier League campaign between the title holders and the FA Cup winners.

Arsenal's 3-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday was attended by 71,523 fans, well short of its capacity of 90,000.

A number of Premier League sides have embarked on preseason tours abroad this summer, with Manchester United's meeting with Real Madrid watched by 109,318 fans at Michigan Stadium.

About the prospect of playing the game outside of England, Horne said to Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "It's an interesting idea and, obviously, we've seen the NFL do something similar with their games coming to Wembley.

"The NBA are doing it and we know that Spanish football and Italian football are looking at doing that with their own Super Cup-type games.

"So, it's an interesting opportunity. But, as I say, right now, we've got a contract with Wembley [until 2018], and the fans and the players enjoy playing at Wembley."

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