Any ideas England’s Premier League might have of playing matches overseas would be unlikely to get any backing from UEFA, a top official of European soccer’s governing body said.

UEFA failed to support the idea when it was first mooted six years ago, and Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s general secretary, told delegates at the Leaders in Sport Summit that he did not think UEFA would change its stance.

“Whenever these kind of things are discussed, we have to act in a responsible way within the rules that we’ve all agreed together,” Infantino told delegates.

“Let’s see what is the decision of UEFA on this. I don’t think it will change (from 2008), it would be discussed, but I don’t think it will change.”

FIFA executive committee member Michel D’Hooghe, speaking to Reuters after Infantino’s address, was asked if he supported the idea of a round of games being played overseas.

“My personal opinion is that this is a very dangerous precedent and I am not in favour,” he said.

“I understand the reasons why they would like to do it, they are financial I suppose, but if you start doing that, where does it end?

“If there is one thing I have learned in my 40 years as president of the Belgium Football Association you must be afraid of the word ‘precedent.’ If you do something special for one why refuse it for someone else.

“If it would be my decision at FIFA, I would not allow it.”