SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia has joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in rejecting a proposal by the English Premier League to play club matches overseas.

The Premier League last week announced a proposal to launch an extra “International Round” of fixtures during the 2010-11 season in cities which had bid for the rights to stage matches.

Sydney and Melbourne were put forward as possible venues but the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) said it would oppose plans to play matches in Australia because it wanted to protect its own fledgling domestic A-League.

“We said when this issue first arose last week that FFA’s overwhelming priority is to promote the A-League and to continue to invest in, and grow, the game in Australia…that remains our view,” FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said in a statement.

“The bottom line is, FFA rejects the notion of another country playing a round of their domestic competition in Australia and intruding on the development of the A-League and the game in Australia.”

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said he was not opposed to overseas clubs playing exhibition matches on Australian soil but insisted they should involve A-League teams.

The FFA’s stance is consistent with comments this week by AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam.

“My recommendation to the AFC Executive Committee would be to reject any initiatives of this nature,” Hammam said.