European football associations are set to request UEFA to advocate for the reintegration of the old international break schedule after the new three-week system was widely criticized.
The new, longer window, which this season put September and October international breaks in one, called for European countries to fit four Nations League games into around 11 days.
But the schedule has prompted fears over player welfare, injuries and costs, with a number of football association officials calling the plan unworkable.
There was reportedly general hostility to the format at a meeting of European football associations in Berlin on Thursday, according to the report, with Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt and chief executive Mark Bullingham pointing out its disadvantages.
Numerous unions were in favour of returning to the five distinct international breaks, lasting two weeks each.
The updated schedule was ratified by FIFA in 2023 in part to ease players’ travel burdens and to enhance their wellbeing. Despite this, Nations League matches have come under scrutiny once again, following a series of players picking up injuries during the international window.
More financially constrained nations have also raised the issue of thin squad depth, while a few federations revealed they had experienced problems selling tickets for two home games too near each other.
While fans are demanding change, UEFA will face considerable challenges to achieve it, owing to the current international match calendar being set until 2030.
UEFA is also at odds with FIFA, making a reversal potentially problematic.
