Premier League chief warns of 'saturation point'

Football will scope saturation constituent if matches support being added to nan calendar, according to Premier League main executive Richard Masters.

The Premier League is portion of a legal challenge against Fifa alongside different home competitions successful Europe and subordinate unions complete nan sport’s calendar.

They reason nan game’s world governing assemblage has not consulted pinch them successful immoderate meaningful measurement complete scheduling.

Fifa has antecedently rejected claims that Fifpro and nan World Leagues Association were not consulted complete plans to big a 32-team Club World Cup.

Risks to subordinate use person been highlighted astatine length by nan Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) but Masters besides believes excessively overmuch shot risks turning group off.

"It’s a really difficult point to foretell erstwhile saturation takes hold," he said.

"Obviously, we person tons of football. The Premier League is portion of it. It’s portion of nan picture, our clubs participate successful aggregate competitions, and we’re adding to that calendar, truthful it should beryllium a concern.

"I deliberation that we will scope a constituent of saturation."

Masters said nan ineligible action was not conscionable astir Fifa's plans for an expanded Club World Cup and much astir nan effect its scheduling could person connected existing competitions.

He added: "If our clubs get to nan last of those competitions, what benignant of teams are they going to beryllium capable to section astatine nan commencement of nan Premier League play erstwhile we person an responsibility to nan players to springiness them 3 weeks’ rest, which they won’t get?

"In nan end, it doesn’t adhd up, truthful a caller accommodation has to beryllium reached. The Club World Cup is simply a applicable title that should beryllium capable to create successful its ain way, but not astatine nan disbursal of different people’s competitions."

Masters besides defended suggestions nan Premier League's ain pre-season initiatives, specified arsenic nan Summer Series successful nan United States, person added to nan problem.

He said: "Pre-season is astir coming back. I judge [the matches] are protective to nan players successful nan consciousness that if you want to locomotion complete nan achromatic statement connected Saturday successful a Premier League match, you’ve sewage to beryllium physically connected point. You cannot beryllium unfit.

"Therefore, a pre-season is required, pinch matches successful it. Obviously, we effort and make that pre-season portion of nan show and portion of nan promotion. I don’t deliberation there’s thing incorrect pinch that."