BBC SPORT | Football | 39th game in Torquay, reckons MP

He told Premier League boss Richard Scudamore that the South West should be thought of ahead of places like Dubai.

"I represent a part of the country that's a long way from its nearest Premiership team," Sanders told Scudamore at Westminster.

Scudamore responded by joking: "If Torquay wish to bid to be a host city we will look at it."

But Liberal Democrat Sanders said he is quite serious with his argument.

"I'm fed up with kids in Premiership team strips rather than the local teams that there are in Devon," he said. "So why aren't you thinking about having the 39th game in a part of the country that doesn't have any Premiership football."

The Premier League has launched controversial plans for an extra game from January 2011 with cities around the world bidding to host matches.

While the plans are popular with the league they have met with stiff resistance from fans and the global footballing authorities.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter said he would not sanction such matches while the head of the Asian Football Confederation said he would not allow any Premier League matches in his continent.