Top clubs want to cut down internationals

EUROPE’S leading clubs want to reduce the number of internationals to just six a year, Manchester United’s chief executive David Gill revealed last night — a move which could spell the end of friendly matches.

Gill, speaking after the European Clubs’ Association’s (ECA) annual congress in Geneva, said they want to reduce the number of international dates to just 12 over a two-year period, or six a year, excluding tournaments.

Next year there are 11 international dates in the calendar – not including Euro 2012.

Gill said: “In an ideal world, we’ve been talking about six double-dates over the two-year period. It’s a reduction but still gives the right balance to the requirements of the national teams and what the clubs want.”

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, ECA chairman and chief executive of Bayern Munich, said the clubs were tired of releasing their players for “nonsense” matches.