Gill wants change to FIFA’s fixture calendar

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has joined the growing call from Europe’s leading clubs for changes to FIFA’s fixture calendar.

Bayern Munich were indignant in the wake of a hamstring injury Arjen Robben aggravated at last summer’s World Cup in South Africa that kept the Dutchman out for half of last season.

Furious Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed it was time all national sides insured players against injury and called into question the right of FIFA to insert set periods in the season when clubs have to release players.

United returned from their five-match tour of North America knowing that immediately after next Sunday’s Community Shield encounter with Manchester City at Wembley, they will lose players to international friendly matches.

Three weeks after that comes the first international double-header of the new campaign, within a month of that there will be another and in mid-November their players will be called away once more.

Yet Blatter has spoken about more international dates being added, which has angered Europe’s powerful leading clubs intensely.

Although he accepts resolution will not be easy, Gill does not see the present situation as sustainable given it is the clubs who own contracts and invest millions in their squad.

“There are some issues,” said Gill.

“The way the calendar is constructed, the number of dates FIFA put in, insurance.

“There are no easy solutions. These things have been around for many years but if we can get together, it will be for the betterment of the game.”

It could be argued FIFA have more than enough on their plate just now trying to solve the corruption scandal that erupted in the wake of a presidential election in which Sepp Blatter ended up as the only candidate, although Gill trusts UEFA president Michel Platini to take up the cudgels on his member clubs’ behalf.

“Clearly it hasn’t been a good year for FIFA,” said Gill. “No-one could say it has.

“Hopefully through some of the things that are happening, we can get the change and improve the organisation going forward.

“UEFA is a professional organisation. What it has done in terms of its own structure and the Champions League is very professional.

“We have had an initial dialogue with them and they can liaise with FIFA.

“The calendar is wider than just the European situation but it is clear: we provide the players. We are a key part of the game.”