FIFA president and self-appointed spiritual leader of football, Sepp Blatter, has proposed scrapping the traditional football calendar in favour of a summer season running from February to November. Blatter announced the plans for a uniform European football season in an interview with German magazine Kicker.
He said: "The season should run from the end of February to the end of November. Then there would be enough recovery time for the players and you could play three-week blocks of (international) qualifiers. The idea is supported by the major European clubs."
The scheme is one way of side-stepping the annual winter break debate, but it would also rule out the traditional Christmas football schedule. And I cannot imagine players in some warmer countries will be too thrilled at playing through July and August. Should Blatter stop meddling?
[Rob Parker]