The calendar 'reaches a turning point' with a bigger Club World Cup, warns Masters | Club World Cup

Richard Masters has criticized FIFA for not consulting national leagues about their plans for an expanded Club World Cup. whose inaugural edition in the United States it will take up one month of the 2025 summer vacation.

As the Premier League chief executive reiterated that Manchester City's 115 charges will be resolved in the “near future”, with hearings to be held in the autumn, league officials from across Europe gathered to issue a warning about a trial in constant expansion. club calendar, with the new FIFA competition as the main objective.

“We're reaching a tipping point,” Masters said. “The response we get from the players is that too much football is played and there is constant expansion. He first division There are 38 rounds, 20 clubs, 180 matches, it is played between August and May, it has not changed form. What has changed… is the progress of international and regional football competitions.

“When you change the calendar, it naturally has an impact. Evidently decisions have recently been made on a Club World Cup It's coming in 2025, but there really hasn't been any consultation with the leagues. We have worked very well with UEFA. We have a seat on the executive committee, we are working under a memorandum of understanding. The situation in FIFA is very different. “There is a difference between UEFA (where there is consultation) and FIFA, where there is none.”

Masters spoke at the general assembly of the European Leagues organization a week after the Premier League reached an agreement with the FA. rule out FA Cup replays: An attempt by the top flight to rationalize a calendar that is already set to grow thanks to the expansion of UEFA club competitions next season.

The Club World Cup or Club World Cup FIFA, will be played from June 15 to July 13 next summer and European football administrators consider it a new strike in an attempt to change the traditional forms of the game. With 32 teams taking part, with Manchester City and Chelsea already confirmed as participants, Premier League officials are concerned about the impact a competitive tournament will have on the summer holidays next season.

It is currently scheduled to be held every four years, but there are concerns that the frequency of the tournament could also increase. The European Leagues have no formal relationship with FIFA, while the European Club Association (ECA) renewed its memorandum of understanding with the world governing body last year.

Along with his European colleagues, Masters also focused on improving the video assistant referee system. He said he believed English officials were “doing a very good job” despite the criticism they have received recently from the league's own clubs. most recently Nottingham Forest. But he said the video refereeing system “needs to improve. “Part of that is improving the rules so there is more room to communicate with fans.”

On the issue of the unprecedented charges against Manchester City, issued in February 2023 but that they are waiting to be heard, Masters said: “The date has been set and the case will resolve itself (at some) point in the near future. “I cannot comment further on this.”