Blatter: Domestic seasons ´too long´

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has again criticised the number of teams in some domestic leagues, including England and Spain.

Blatter, 74, is concerned that the length of certain club seasons may adversely affect the standard of international football.

The Swiss has been a long-term critic of domestic leagues with 20 or more teams, calling for them to be cut to 18 teams or less in order to reduce fixture congestion and player fatigue.

“In my view, and this is something on which (UEFA President) Michel Platini agrees, domestic championships are too long because there are too many teams and too many matches,” Blatter said.

“Teams in leagues with 20 clubs play 38 games, on top of which they also have national cup competitions and league cups, etc.”

“This also creates a conflict of interest between national teams and clubs, some of whom complain that their players come back tired or injured. That’s not the fault of the international calendar, however, and it’s a subject that ought to be discussed.”

Blatter also discussed the role of Task Force Football 2014, created last year in order to assess ways of improving the sport ahead of the next World Cup in Brazil.

“Its objective is to assess tournaments and the way in which the game is organised,” Blatter said.

“At the moment three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw, which is something we can discuss and decide whether it’s a good thing or not.”

“Is extra-time the only option we have when a game ends in a draw? And if we stick with extra-time, how should we end games?”

“Is it worth taking another look at the golden goal? Some people like it, some people don’t. There are a lot of issues regarding tournaments we can look at and discuss.”

“Coaches are professional now and so are players, and there’s no reason why referees shouldn’t be either.”

“Some people say there’s not enough money to pay them, but there always seems to be plenty in the professional leagues.”

Wed 5 January, 2011