UEFA call for reduced rest days

Breaks between international matches will be reduced should plans proposed by UEFA come to fruition.

As it stands, players are permitted three rest days between international fixtures, but under new plans from European football’s governing body, that gap would be cut to two days.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said one reason for the proposal was to ensure more football fell on prime-time television slots on the weekend.

“This is the ‘week of football’ concept to promote national football, it’s in the framework of international calendar so no-one will be harmed by this,” Infantino said at a football leaders conference in London.

“What will happen in the future is that national teams will play on Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday, and Saturday and Tuesday. This will be a great promotion for international football.”

“They are not big changes, they are just adjustments. We will speak to FIFA – it’s up to them to decide. We have discussed it with 53 associations last week as well as other unions.”

“It’s an adaptation especially for friendly dates. The idea is to have, instead of three friendly dates in one year, to have one more double header, but one less friendly.”

In other issues raised at the conference, Infantino said getting rid of match-fixers was pivotal to maintaining the sport’s image.

“It is a serious issue that we have, because it affects the soul of football. If you are under the impression that the game you are in or are watching is fixed, it is the end of football.” he said.

“That’s why we have to fight it. It’s not yet a big problem, but we have to kill it before it gets big. That’s why we take it very seriously. Even one match is one too much.”