Premier League Chief Masterson Confirms Retention of 20 Clubs

• The Premier League will remain with 20 clubs, confirmed Masterson.
• The season will start on September 15 and will last for 11 months.
• Football organizations are obliged to maintain dialogue regarding player workload.

General Director Premier League Richard Masterson confirmed that the league does not plan to reduce the number of clubs from 20 to 18, regardless of the pressure from the international football federation (FIFA) due to the congested calendar. The new season will begin on September 15, just three weeks after the Chelsea final in the Club World Cup.

The upcoming season will last 11 months and will conclude with the World Cup final in the USA on July 19. Masterson noted that the Premier League does not intend to follow the example of other leagues, such as Ligue 1 in France, which reduced the number of teams to 18 to alleviate the calendar congestion.

He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between the growth of the game and the protection of national football. Masterson also emphasized the necessity of dialogue between FIFA, clubs, and players to prevent burnout due to an increased number of matches.

In the past, players such as midfielder Manchester City Rodri expressed concerns about their workload and the potential for strain due to the increased number of games.

This situation is reflected in the ongoing superleague conflict between FIFA and the international players' union FIFPro regarding the impact of the congested schedule on player welfare.

Tags: Sport/Football/English Premier League