NFL: UK government will support plans for London based-team

A crowd of 83,436 watched Miami Dolphins beat Oakland Raiders at Wembley in September

Chancellor George Osborne says the UK government will support plans for a London-based NFL team.

The idea of Wembley becoming home to a franchise has been mooted since 2007, when 81,176 watched Miami Dolphins take on New York Giants at the venue.

Osborne has held talks with NFL officials and said the idea would be "a huge boost to London".

"I've said to the NFL that anything the government can do to make this happen, we will," he added.

Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons will meet on Sunday in the 10th NFL match to be played at Wembley. It will be the second this season after the Dolphins beat Oakland Raiders 38-14 in front of a crowd of 83,436 in September.

The previous nine matches have each attracted attendances of more than 76,000.

Osborne said: "There are 32 teams in America and one of them could be a London team. That's a serious prospect,

"It's not going to happen overnight but over the next few years."

Jacksonville Jaguars - who have committed to playing a game at Wembley each year until 2016 - will meet the Dallas Cowboys at Wembley on 9 November.