A longer winter break better

Dec 23, 2011 - Abhishek Parameswaran

Everybody loves a winter break. Except the English Football Association and Sky Sports. In Germany, winters result in one major change in most of the population’s weekend plans. No football. The German League has been one of the pioneers of the concept of the winter break, which might be grating for the fans, but serves as a welcome relief from the fixture burden for the players.

It is a matter which has been debated numerous times in England, where Sky Sports dictates when football matches are to be held, and a fixture pile-up in the festive season sees teams playing five matches in the space of a fortnight. Matches are traditionally held on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with matches in between, post and prior to the above days too.

A break at this time has been widely advocated by the players and physios, but with sponsors ruling the game these days, it remains unlikelsy that the FA would suddenly display a benevolent side.

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