Premier League Set For Winter Break

After years of debate, it has been confirmed that Premier League clubs will have a winter break from the 2019/20 season.

The break will see clubs have one weekend off in February, split over two weeks, with ten teams sitting out the first weekend and the other ten have a break the following weekend.

in order to facilitate the break, the FA Cup fifth round will be moved to midweek dates outside the break, with replays being scrapped at that stage.

In an initial trial phase, the break will be tested each season until 2022, to coincide with the new television deals. 

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “It’s no secret that we have a very congested fixture calendar and over recent years we have been working with the whole game to find a solution.”

“We don’t know what the exact effect will be [on international performance], but if you look at the other big nations they all have some kind of break which allows players to recover in the middle of an intense season. There’s loads of anecdotal data that it’s going to be helpful as much for a mental break as anything else. I also think it’s as important for the Premier League teams competing in the Champions League as it will be for the England team.”

Outgoing Premier League chief Richard Scudamore, who announced he would be stepping down from his role last week, also welcomed the move – adding that clubs will not be allowed to exploit the break by playing lucrative friendlies.

All three divisions of the EFL will remain unchanged, with a full programme of fixtures taking place on each of the weekends where there is a break.

The move brings the Premier League in line with other major leagues around Europe, which each enjoy mid-season rests of between 11 and 22 days. However, they all take place between December and January, traditionally the busiest period for Premier League teams.

It was also confirmed that the Carabao Cup will scrap extra time for next season, while all games at Premier League grounds will use VAR.

EFL Cup matches will now go straight to penalty kicks if the scores are level after 90 minutes to reduce additional fatigue issues following a vote by English Football League clubs.

Extra time will now only be played in the final at Wembley, while the ABBA penalty format will also be scrapped.