Member

The other matter on which I have touched at different points is the importance of ensuring that the Premier League in particular and English football overall should be able to adjust in what is a highly competitive world. Last week we saw something of which, I will be honest, I was unaware—that football’s Club World Cup is to take place next year. It involves 32 clubs from right around the world, only two of which are English: Chelsea and Manchester City. It will take place in June and July next year and will inevitably impinge on the football structure in England. Therefore, we have to ensure that any football regulator acts in a manner that takes cognisance of developments that I have identified, not only in sport in general but in football, because in those six weeks, in the period when the football season is not normally taking place in this country, it will be taking place throughout the United States. It is relevant that players who are participating on behalf of English clubs will naturally want some form of respite in one form or another when they come back from the tournament, at whatever point their participation ends.