Soccer-Wenger hits back at Blatter criticism

By Timothy Collings

LONDON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit back on Friday at FIFA president Sepp Blatter's criticism of the English Premier League's plans to play a round of international fixtures all over the world.

Wenger, who said he was "not a 100 per cent defender of the idea", said he felt it was unreasonable to criticise the proposals without weighing up the implications.

"My reaction is that I am surprised by the immensity of the battle, that people are against it without really analysing the pros and the cons," he told reporters on Friday.

Blatter was quoted as saying on Thursday the scheme was a money-making exercise that ignored the wishes of fans and may also affect England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup finals. "I agree that you have to respect the competition and the fans but for me the biggest disrespect to the fans is to take their money out of their pockets without giving them any quality in return," Wenger said.

He agreed some might think the proposal showed the Premier League was growing too big for its boots.

"It could be one of the reasons," he said. "But a lot of people are coming out against it, without analysing it, and the English Premier League is trying to do something for the fans who are abroad, which I like.

"That the English Premier League wants to be dominant in the world, I like that as well -- because I am a part of it! So, I think there are a lot of plusses as well." (Editing by Miles Evans)