The coordinated international match calendar was at the heart of discussions when the FIFA Football Committee and the Technical and Development Committee met in Zurich today (23 September 2004), chaired by FIFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain) and Executive Committee member Michel Platini (France) respectively. The view of the technical experts in world football is very clear: players, especially internationals, are taking part in too many matches. They also supported the following proposal, which will require approval from the Executive Committee, regarding arrangements for the end of the 2005-06 season:
14 May 2006 Final matchday for all 2005-06 league and cup competitions (including finals) organised by the associations and confederations
15-22 May 2006 Rest period for players (8 days)
23 May – 8 June 2006 Preparation period for national teams taking part in FIFA World Cup™ (17 days)
9 June 2006 Opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™
Consequence
(by way of exception): The finals of UEFA club competitions will be brought forward by one week (UEFA Cup final on 10 instead of 17 May, UEFA Champions League final on 17 instead of 24 May)
Having been approved by the FIFA Congress in Zurich in August 2000 and in force since 1 January 2002, the coordinated international match calendar has already borne fruit. Among the many benefits, the member associations and confederationsare now able to schedule the dates for their competitions further in advance, FIFA has increased the number of dates for back-to-back international fixtures thus reducing the amount of international travel undertaken by players and FIFA will from this season onwards abolish the date in April previously reserved for friendly international matches. At the same time, FIFA has been careful to preserve the number of dates earmarked for international matches (8 in even years, 12 in odd years).
Nevertheless, difficulties continue to arise. Pressure is being exerted on players to prevent them from joining their national teams when called up. In some countries, the number of teams competing in the national league has increased or additional competitions have been introduced. Fixtures in some domestic leagues are being spread across several days each week, e.g. from Friday to Monday. Furthermore, the many problems encountered in the men’s game are now also starting to emerge in women’s football.
As a likely consequence of the increase in matches, the performances of top players fell below expectations in both the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ and EURO 2004.
In order to ensure that players are given the necessary rest periods, particularly for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, the Football Committee and the Technical and Development Committee unanimously supported the proposal to reduce the number of matches played each season. The two committees called for the international football family to work together in pursuit of this goal. In view of FIFA’s position in world football’s hierarchy, the members entrusted the world governing body with the task of fighting this crucial cause for the future of football. The coordinated international match calendar will be the key issue on the agenda for the Strategic Studies Committee and the FIFA Executive Committee when they convene on 5 and 6 October respectively.
Furthermore, the new procedure for finding the FIFA World Player and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year was also presented to the members of the two committees at today’s meetings. From now on, the two committees will draw up a list of 30 male and 20 female players, which will be sent not only to national team coaches, but for the first time also to national team captains and FIFPro for them to cast their votes. This preliminary list will be completed by the end of September.
The Football Committee also received a report on the Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004. The members reiterated their wish that the number of teams in the women’s tournament be increased to make for a more workable format. This view was shared by the members of the Technical and Development Committee who, while reflecting on the format of FIFA competitions, made the recommendation to the Executive Committee that the FIFA World Youth Championship henceforth be organised on a four-yearly basis, two years after each Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and that the latter be subject to the same age restrictions.
Finally, the Technical and Development Committee heard detailed analyses of recent continental championships (African Cup of Nations, EURO, Copa America, Asian Cup) and received information about FIFA’s new Futuro III courses, which focus on instructors in a wide range of areas including refereeing, youth football, women’s football, sports medicine and administration. 17 of these courses have been organised during 2004, involving participants from 150 countries.
Further information from:
FIFA Media Department
Tel.: +41-43/222 7272 00 – Fax: +41-43 222 7373 or E-Mail: media@fifa.org