EPL director warns of calendar ‘tipping point’

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has expressed concern about the increasing strain on football clubs due to the expanding football calendar, noting, “It stands to reason if you overload the calendar and the players, at some point, something has to give.” He emphasized the feedback received from players, indicating that there is a consensus that the current volume of matches is excessive, leading to concerns about player welfare and the sustainability of the sport’s demanding schedule.

With plans for an expanded Champions League and Club World Cup looming, the upcoming 2024-25 season could see a significant rise in match frequency for some clubs and record-breaking number of matches in the span of a single campaign. The decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards by the Football Association reflects the acknowledgment of this issue.

Masters cautioned, “It is getting to a tipping point. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion.”

🚨🔵 Premier League CEO Richard Masters: “The hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges will take place in the near future”, says — via @ben_rumsby. pic.twitter.com/p630nfXlLc

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The expansion of the Champions League to include 36 teams and a revised group stage format, along with the transformation of the Club World Cup into a 32-team tournament held every four years, adds further pressure on clubs and players alike.

As clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City prepare for participation in the expanded Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025, Masters urged caution against overburdening the football calendar.