Clubs and FIFA clash over cut to fixtures

A war of words broke out between FIFA and top European clubs yesterday after a move that could see the number of internationals played each year slashed.

The European Clubs’ Association (ECA) and UEFA have reached an agreement on proposals to change the international calendar, but the clubs are still refusing to talk to FIFA, who have the ultimate power over the number of matches.

The agreement would see an average of nine international matches played a year rather than 12, with nine double-headers over a two-year period and no one-off friendlies such as Ireland v Czech Republic today, and the August friendly date scrapped.