Richard Masters, the Chief Executive of the Premier League, has stated that the number of teams competing in the English Premier League will not be reduced from 20 to 18.
Masters made this statement in response to FIFA’s suggestion that reducing the number of teams in top leagues could be a solution to the congested match schedule resulting from changes to the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Premier League is set to begin on the 15th of this month, just three weeks after the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea, a Premier League club, won the Club World Cup championship.
The upcoming season will also see teams playing many matches in close succession, with the FIFA World Cup scheduled to start on July 19 next year.
Last year, Manchester City midfielder Rodri said that players protesting against playing too many matches in quick succession is a possibility.
Among Europe’s top five leagues, France’s Ligue 1 has already reduced the number of competing teams from 20 to 18 for the 2023-24 season.
Masters said that he has always been someone who works to provide opportunities for players and clubs to compete in many competitive tournaments.
“I always wish for many clubs to have access to numerous competitive tournaments. However, I don’t believe that this should be achieved by altering our domestic league,” Richard said.
In the past season, many players faced injury issues due to playing numerous matches in quick succession. Many clubs, coaches, and FIFPRO, which works to protect players’ rights, have expressed concerns about this issue.
Richard further stated that it’s regrettable that FIFA doesn’t consult with relevant parties before making such changes, adding that a permanent solution could be found through proper consultation.
Since 1994, the English Premier League has consisted of 20 teams, with a total of 380 matches played in a season.
