European federations call for a review of the extended international break

European football associations have expressed their dissatisfaction with the new international break system, which combined the September and October periods into a single 16-day window. This saw national teams play four matches in the UEFA Nations League, amid calls to reconsider the established schedule to protect players and reduce the burden on clubs.

The Guardian and the Associated Press reported that officials from European federations voiced their objections during a closed meeting of UEFA in Berlin on Thursday, pointing out that the new system raised concerns regarding physical strain and injuries, as well as the organizational and financial difficulties faced by some federations.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of fixture congestion on players, with several stars, including Kylian Mbappé, Kai Havertz, Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo, suffering physical issues during the break. Additionally, playing four matches in a short period has posed extra challenges for national teams with limited player rosters.

Concerns have not only been raised about the physical aspect, as some federations expressed their worries about the difficulty of marketing matches and selling tickets when two home games are held in close proximity, alongside the burdens faced by fans and sponsors. Reports indicated that a large number of federations prefer to return to the previous system, which was based on shorter breaks that included two matches.

UEFA is expected to gather feedback from member associations to consider a proposal to FIFA regarding system changes. However, the international calendar approved until 2030 includes the continuation of the four-match window at the beginning of the season, making system change a challenge for European demands.