Rummenigge demands changes to calendar

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warned yesterday that Europe’s clubs may take legal action against FIFA unless changes are made to the football calendar.

Rummenigge, president of the European Club Association (ECA), is proposing an eight-month club season for European competitions and then two separate months when players can be released for international duty.

The proposals have emerged amid a growing conflict between Europe’s clubs and FIFA over when players should be released for international duty.

Under FIFA’s current statutes, clubs must make their players available during the various windows throughout the year when internationals can be played, but the clubs want more say in when they release their players.

Clubs also want insurance policies so they are compensated if players are injured on international duty.

“FIFA must change their statutes,” Rummenigge told German magazine Kicker.

“We, as employers, can no longer accept that we just receive an order informing us that we must allow our players to play free of charge.

“If we do not reach a consensus, action will be taken and FIFA will then need to rely on God,” he warned.