Premier League CEO not entertaining idea of reducing league to 18 clubs

Players and other organisations have often complained to FIFA about the congested football calendar.

Amid disagreements with the world football governing body FIFA over the crowded international schedule, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has stated that the league will not cut from 20 to 18 clubs.

The top-flight season starts on August 15 and lasts for 11 months; moreover, with the World Cup next year, football action will culminate on July 19 in the United States with the World Cup final.

The 2025-26 season will begin only two weeks after the last round of Summer Series games and three weeks after Chelsea defeated Paris St-Germain to win the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Last year, Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City, implied that players are on the verge of going on strike due to the increased number of games.

Players and other organisations continue to raise their voices against FIFA for their congested schedule

For the 2023–24 season, France’s Ligue 1 saw a reduction from 20 to 18 teams. However, Masters stated to BBC Sport:

“I don’t believe we need to be compelled to make that choice.”

The players’ union FIFPRO and FIFA have long been at a point of contention over player burnout.

In regards to the introduction of the enlarged 32-team Club World Cup or the upcoming World Cup, which is scheduled to be the first to involve 48 countries, Masters agrees with the player’s union that FIFA has not adequately consulted everyone involved in the game.

The extension of all three club competitions by UEFA last season was the primary cause of the elimination of FA Cup replays and the requirement that the Carabao Cup third round be spread over two midweeks in September. The CWC and World Cup are not the only reasons why the schedule is constrained.

City & Chelsea urged the league to postpone their opening game of the new season

Masters is right when he says the Premier League hasn’t changed since it cut its number from 22 to 20 clubs for the 1994–95 season. But it has a history of pressuring clubs to play on a schedule they don’t desire.

The most recent controversy has focused on Chelsea and City, who, considering their summertime efforts, both desired a postponement of their first game for the new season.

Since this was turned down, Chelsea will play Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge precisely five weeks after defeating PSG at MetLife Stadium.

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