NFL opts not to stage second 2010 game in London

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots played at Wembley in October

America's National Football League has decided against staging a second game in the UK in 2010.

The NFL blamed uncertainty over its collective bargaining agreement with players and global economic factors.

Earlier this month, NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said two teams had "agreed conceptually" to play home games in Britain this year.

Wembley will host a regular season game between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers in October.

Following the success of the NFL's first trip to London, in 2007, the league committed to playing regular season games in the UK.

But in a statement on Sunday, the NFL said: "Playing one game in the UK is a significant investment. Playing a second game is an even bigger investment.

"As we considered this, the uncertainty related to the ongoing CBA discussions linked to the current global economic climate were critical factors in our decision not to play a second game in the UK.

"Our ambition to bring a second game to the UK is as strong as ever.

"Once the current uncertainty is resolved, we will be in a strong position to bring multiple games to our UK fanbase."

Wembley Stadium has hosted one game per season for the past three years.

The New England Patriots beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in front of an 84,254 crowd in the 2009 event.

League bosses in the US had hinted there could be as many as four games per season played in Britain by 2012, possibly in cities other than London.

But that timescale seems unlikely after the NFL's latest announcement.