European countries rise up en masse against new rule

Europe's football associations want to scrap the new three-week international break as soon as possible, the Guardian reports. Major dissatisfaction has grown in recent weeks over the heavy workload on players, the rising number of injuries and the financial consequences. A meeting in Berlin on Thursday made it clear that virtually every association present wants a return to the old system.

FIFA approved the change in 2023, and this season brought the first adjusted international calendar. The September and October breaks were merged, so European countries played four Nations League matches in 11 days.

Injuries to internationals in particular are causing unrest. Brian Brobbey, Cody Gakpo, Kylian Mbappé, Alexander Isak, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven were among those to suffer physical problems during the international break. One chairman of a European football association even described the new set-up to the Guardian as 'a disaster'.

Remarkably, the longer international break was introduced specifically to improve players' welfare and reduce travel. European associations now say it is having the opposite effect, partly because Nations League matches are generally more intense than friendlies. It also becomes harder to rest star players when there is more at stake.

Smaller footballing nations, in particular, fear the new calendar will leave them at a disadvantage. They usually have less depth in their squads and so find it harder to replace key internationals. That could bring sporting consequences too, with Nations League performances deciding qualification for the 2028 European Championship.

Financial concerns matter as much as the sporting ones. Various associations have said it is difficult to generate attention for two home matches in a short period and sell enough tickets. Not everyone opposes the new system, though: one association chairman pointed out that national team coaches actually get more time to work with their players because of the longer window.

UEFA is the body the European associations want to push FIFA into reversing the change, but that looks a difficult task. The international match calendar is fixed until 2030, and relations between the two governing bodies have seriously deteriorated.

A change of course could also depend on FIFA's future leadership, according to the Guardian. President Gianni Infantino is seeking a new term in March.