The English FA has told world governing body FIFA that it has serious reservations over the Premier League's plan to play extra matches overseas.

The FA also said in a statement on Friday that it did not want the proposals floated by England's top 20 clubs last week to damage its bid to stage the World Cup in 2018.

"It was ... made clear to FIFA that the FA has some serious reservations about the proposal," the English game's governing body said on its Web site (www.thefa.com).

"We have a responsibility to the whole of English football and we have to consider any wider consequences and implications that this proposal may create."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has opposed the plans and warned that the proposal could harm England's World Cup bid.

With this in mind, the FA statement added: "We also do not want the Premier League's proposal to affect England's 2018 World Cup bid in any way. At this time, due to the FA's strong international relations, we do not believe it has."

The Premier League clubs have agreed to consider playing league matches overseas from the 2010-11 season.

The fixtures, planned to be staged over one weekend in January in cities which had bid for the hosting rights, would extend the league season to 39 matches per club from 38.

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