European federations urge UEFA to pressure FIFA over three‑week break
European football federations gathered in Berlin on Thursday the 8th to demand that UEFA press FIFA into restoring the previous international calendar, ending the three‑week break introduced this season. The meeting, captured in a caption reading “Foto: / Esporte News Mundo”, underscored growing discontent across Europa.
Demand for calendar reversal
Representatives voiced strong dissatisfaction with the new format, arguing it places undue strain on players. They called on UEFA to intervene with FIFA to revert to the earlier September‑October windows. Delegates from dozens of national associations participated in the debate.
The main worries centre on player fatigue, a rise in injuries and financial strain caused by cramming fixtures into a single period. reported that opposition to the change was virtually unanimous among the federations present.
FIFA’s council approved the alteration in 2023, merging the former September and October windows into one extended interval. Under the new scheme, European sides now contest four Nations League matches in roughly eleven days, rather than spreading them across two separate windows.
Impact on players and smaller nations
Players such as Kylian Mbappé, Alexander Isak, Brian Brobbey, Cody Gakpo and Alex Scott were cited as examples of those suffering physical problems. The compressed schedule also limits the number of substitutions available, reducing coaches’ ability to manage fatigue.
Smaller federations warned that reduced squad depth leaves them with fewer options to rest key players. They also highlighted ticket‑selling difficulties when two home matches are scheduled close together, threatening a vital revenue stream.
Delegates suggested tailoring international windows to each continent, but acknowledged logistical hurdles and no concrete format yet. While a swift reversal appears unlikely – the calendar is fixed through 2030 – the strained UEFA‑FIFA relationship and the pending Fifa presidential election in March may influence any future amendment.