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The European Club Association (ECA) has reached an agreement with UEFA to reduce the number of international friendly matches. However, FIFA has not yet given its approval for this step, as they intend to consider the matter at the beginning of March.
Until now, national teams could play 12 friendly matches per year. Clubs from various countries wanted this number to be halved, but a different decision was made - nine weeks will be left over two years, during which each team can play two matches.
This means that there will be no friendly matches in August.
The chairman of the ECA, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who unites the most powerful couple of hundred Continental teams, called it "a great step forward for European football." The German stated: "This agreement shows that clubs are very important and contribute to the success of national teams."
In addition, it was agreed that players will only be able to participate in one major international tournament per year. However, a new date for the African Cup of Nations, which is held every two years in January, could not be agreed upon.
