The Premier League's proposals for an international round encountered a significant hurdle yesterday after Mohamed bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), confirmed his opposition to the plan.

Bin Hammam, one of the most powerful men in world football and considered a potential successor to Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, said he would advise the AFC executive committee and member associations to reject the initiative, a threat that if carried through would be a significant blow to the plans.

The Premier League anticipates huge interest in hosting the overseas fixtures from Asian cities, with Middle Eastern states such as Dubai and Qatar expected to bid for games along with Japan and China. Under Fifa's statutes games can only be held in foreign cities with the approval of the host national federation.

Were Asian states to follow Bin Hammam's lead and snub the Premier League its options for potential host cities would be severely restricted.

"I always welcome the exchange of knowledge and expertise between foreign football associations and clubs and support matches which benefit the development of our clubs here in Asia, but at the present time I can't see the wisdom in the proposed plans," he said.

"It is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in other territories other than their own. If this principle is accepted then the FA Premier League must accept reciprocal arrangements within their own territory.

"Saying that, my recommendation to the AFC executive committee would be to reject any initiatives of this nature. And we would urge the AFC member associations to protect their own national leagues and clubs within their territories."

Bin Hammam is fiercely protective of the AFC and the development of its competitions. Last year he forced Manchester United to cancel a friendly in Malaysia because it clashed with the Asia Cup.

He is keen to protect the development of local leagues in Asia and anxious at the amount of revenue the Premier League receives from the region. An AFC survey last year suggested 60 per cent of all spending on football in Asia went to European clubs and leagues.

Many Asian states are enthusiastic about bidding for games and Bin Hammam could face internal disquiet were he to reject the plans out of hand.

"We always identified the approval of host football associations as a key issue, and it will be a condition of any bid," said a Premier League spokesman. "We will only go where we are welcome and we are mindful of the importance of respecting local football leagues and competitions."

The English FA in particular is determined to make any support for the scheme conditional on serious concessions from the Premier League, particularly over the development of England-qualified players.

Meanwhile, the English FA have quashed the red card issued to Lee Bowyer last weekend and also opted to take no further action against Joey Barton.

West Ham midfielder Bowyer was dismissed on Saturday by referee Mark Clattenburg for an alleged two-footed tackle on Birmingham captain Damien Johnson in the Premier League clash at Upton Park.

Barton, meanwhile, was involved in an incident with Shaun Maloney during Newcastle's 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa on the same day, when television pictures appeared to show him lashing out at the Villa forward.

But neither will face a suspension or any kind of sanction after the FA decided no punishments were necessary in both cases.

• Guardian Service