In a bold move to alleviate the already congested calendar, FIFA reportedly consider reducing the number of teams to 18. 



This proposal has ignited apprehension and debate among clubs and players. Thus, it has caused fears of a significant impact on the structure of European soccer leagues.



Currently, the Premier League, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">La Liga</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> each feature 20 teams. Meanwhile, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-ligue-un-on-us-tv-and-internet/">France’s Ligue 1</a> and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">German Bundesliga</a> operate with 18 teams. According to a report from <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/28241302/fifa-club-world-cup-premier-league-18-teams/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sun</a>, a working group within FIFA has been formed to address the growing concerns over the heavy fixture list. Thus, a source indicated that the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a>‘s reduction to 18 teams might be imminent.



The source mentioned, “We all think that this is the ultimate aim from FIFA, to find a way of making us drop to 18. What you can put your money on is the working group saying there is too much domestic football.”



This potential restructuring comes amidst mounting tension over player welfare and fixture congestion. Clubs and players are increasingly vocal about the physical toll and risk of burnout caused by the dense schedule of matches.



<h2>Much backlash from clubs and players</h2>



The proposed changes are part of FIFA’s broader strategy, which includes the expansion of the Club World Cup to 32 teams, scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13 next year. However, this expansion has met with resistance from clubs, particularly in England and Spain.



They fear the additional fixtures will exacerbate the already heavy load on players. Some clubs have even threatened legal action against FIFA due to the potential adverse consequences of the expanded tournament.



Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, recently highlighted the concerns shared by many clubs about the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/20/its-not-right-let-us-protect-players-arsenal-mikel-arteta-criticises-schedule-after-wolves-victory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toll on players due to an overloaded schedule</a>. The debate over fixture congestion is set to continue, as clubs across Europe grapple with balancing commercial interests, player welfare, and the integrity of the sport.



Also, La Liga president Javier Tebas voiced <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/sport/24356857.fifpro-warns-football-facing-emergency-player-fatigue/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strong opposition to the proposed changes</a>. “If we don’t take action, the industry is in danger. FIFA’s solution is just to create new competitions. But for that to happen and for us to be able to fit these competitions in, we would have to lose two clubs from La Liga.



“That would mean we’d have to make 70 players unemployed at those clubs and it would lose thousands of jobs related to those clubs. We need to fix the current problems before creating new competitions that will destroy the industry, clubs, jobs, the dreams of fans – and football.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="442" height="187" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240602_WST_509976_image-4_c201d9e2.webp&amp;width=442&amp;height=187" alt="" class="wp-image-510028" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/image-4.png 442w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/image-4-300x127.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px"></figure><figcaption>Premier League fixtures will be released in mid June</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Italy recently voted against cutting league size</h2>



The 2024-25 season will already see an expanded <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> with 36 teams. It would lead to a 51% increase in games, extending the group stage into a league format. This new system will include additional matchdays, further crowding the calendar. 



Two weeks after the next UCL final, the new 32-team <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/major-clubs-missing-at-2025-club-world-cup-in-usa/">Club World Cup</a> will kick off in the United States. This only highlights the relentless schedule top players face.



The players’ union, FIFPRO, has criticized the escalating number of games. They have also questioned the sustainability of maintaining 20-team domestic leagues under such conditions. In addition, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has suggested that leagues “should have 18 clubs”; though this view is not universally accepted among league presidents.



The Italian Serie A recently held a vote on reducing the league from 20 to 18 teams. Nonetheless, they <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/no-stop-napoli-and-juventus-call-for-serie-a-teams-reduction/">overwhelmingly rejected the proposal</a>. Only Juventus, Inter, Milan, and Roma supported the reduction, falling well short of the required majority.



Photo credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto

Premier League fear FIFA will force them to cut to 18 teams

In a bold move to alleviate the already congested calendar, FIFA reportedly consider reducing the number of teams to 18.

Premier League fear FIFA will force them to cut to 18 teams - World Soccer Talk

Yay! The new fixtures for the 2010-11 Premier League season have been announced. And all around the world we soccer fans are rubbing our hands with glee at the thought of who our team will play on the opening day of the new season, scheduled to kick off on Saturday, August 14.

If I sound slightly sarcastic, it’s intentional. While I like perusing the new fixtures just as much as you do, I’m legally not allowed to show them to you. That’s because of an archaic (and ridiculous) law that makes the Premier League fixtures licensed information. And because it’s licensed, I would have to <a href="http://www.football-dataco.com/licences/fixednewmedia.htm?id=217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pay a fee of £4,244</a> to list them for the whole season. That is, in US currency, $6,277.

The management of the licenses for the Premier League (and Football League) is done by a company called <a href="http://www.football-dataco.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Football DataCo</a>, which is owned by the Premier League and Football League. The money accrued by Football DataCo is then split among the clubs in the Premier League, Football League and Scottish Football League clubs. To police the Internet to ensure that websites that are publishing fixtures have paid their license fees, Football DataCo uses <a href="http://www.nr-online.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NetResult</a>, a UK based company that is also hired by the Premier League to shut down websites that illegally show highlights of Premier League action or live streams.

I, along with presumably hundreds of other bloggers and website owners, received a “friendly” e-mail from NetResult recently warning us that “Football DataCo Limited vigorously polices and protects the Leagues’ commercial rights, including the Leagues intellectual property rights in the fixture lists. On behalf of Football DataCo Limited, NetResult will be regularly monitoring web sites to ensure that the Leagues’ intellectual property rights are not infringed.”

And, with their capitalist’s hat on, NetResult reminded us that “The display or use of other materials owned or controlled by the Leagues (including, but not limited to photographs and logos) may require a separate additional licence which can also be obtained via Football DataCo Limited.” Oooh, lovely. Not only can I pay $6,277 for the fixtures, but I can also sign up to pay to use the logo of the Premier League and its clubs, as well as photographs. Wonderful.

The letter from NetResult is reprinted here (click the image for a larger version):




<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="500" height="397" class="wp-image-421257" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20100617_CMS_21003_football-dataco_6761119e.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=397" alt="" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/02/16064657/football-dataco.jpg 500w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/02/16064657/football-dataco-300x238.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></figure>
Oh, I almost forgot. Here are the fixtures — in honor of Pro Evolution Soccer’s fake team names — for the opening day of the 2010-11 Premier League season:
<ul>
 	<li>LEAGUE FIXTURES MENTIONING FICTITIOUS NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED PER DEMANDS OF NETRESULT/PREMIER LEAGUE</li>
</ul>
Merseyside Red against CENSORED should be a great clash on the opening day, don’t you think?

The complete (and licensed) fixtures for the 2010-11 Premier League season can be <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2072453,00.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found on the Premier League website</a>.

2010-11 Premier League Opening Day Fixtures Fiasco

2010-11 Premier League Opening Day Fixtures Fiasco - World Soccer Talk

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Premier League fear FIFA will force them to cut to 18 teams

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2010-11 Premier League Opening Day Fixtures Fiasco