Internationals to be played across six days

INTERNATIONAL qualifiers will be played across six days between Thursdays and Tuesdays from 2014 to maximise TV coverage and broadcast income.

The move will see national teams having just a two-day break between matches in World Cup and European Championship double-headers, in what is being dubbed The Week of Football.

Teams will play either Thursdays and Sundays, Fridays and Mondays, or Saturdays and Tuesdays. Most double-headers are currently being played on Fridays and Tuesdays — leaving the weekends without football.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino made the announcement at the Leaders in Football conference in London. He explained: “You can play every three days — it’s what happening in club football all year long so that’s not a problem. This has been unanimously supported by all 53 national associations. If we leave the weekend to other sports then in the medium and long-term it will be damaging.”

The move coincides with UEFA selling TV rights collectively across Europe and providing national associations with guaranteed income.

Infantino said there would be no clash with the clubs — and that there would in fact be fewer international breaks.

He added: “This is an important step to promote national team football and the whole of football will benefit.

“It is within the framework of the international football calendar, so no additional dates will be required whatsoever.

“If you do not have national teams playing on Saturdays and Sundays then it’s a pity.

“If England are playing on a Friday then fans can watch Spain, France or Germany at the weekends.”

Infantino said there would also be a proposal to lose the August friendly date, and combine the November and March friendly dates into one double-header.