Winter break frozen by Premier League chiefs
Published 23:00 03/07/10 By Paul Smith
The Premier League has no intention of introducing a winter break, despite widespread calls to fall in line with the rest of Europe.
England boss Fabio Capello implied the League’s decision not to give players a mid-season break was instrumental in accounting for England’s disastrous campaign.
He has great support among key top-flight managers. Three previous England bosses - Steve McClaren, Sven Goran Eriksson and Kevin Keegan - also campaigned to have one introduced.
But the Premier League have stood firm for years in the face of calls to implement one, arguing that the congested fixture list does not allow the league to view it as a viable option.
The Premier League have always argued that to incorporate one the FA would have to reduce fixtures in their own stellar competition, the FA Cup.
A Premier League source said last night: “There’s no plans to revisit this subject.The way the fixtures fall it’s impossible to accommodate one.
“Besides, even if it was introduced, clubs are more likely to arrange prestigious friendlies, making the thing redundant anyway.”
Capello has called on Sir Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier League and Club England, to intervene.
Richards is treading a perilous line. He is facing mounting calls from Premier League chairmen claiming he has a direct conflict of interest and should stand down from his FA posts.
