The Premier League have drawn up plans that involve playing games just nine days before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The official proposals, which were revealed by the Daily Mail, include Premier League and Championship fixtures on November 12, a little over a week before the winter tournament begins on November 21.
Matches would resume on Boxing Day, eight days after the final.
The plans are still at the draft stage and would need to be approved by clubs, the FA and Uefa. It is believed clubs are keen to know the schedule well in advance so they can arrange their own timetable during the shortened 28-day tournament.
The Mail reports that the two-week winter break, which will begin in February of this season, would be scrapped in 2022/23 and return a year after the World Cup, while the domestic season for both the Premier League and Championship would begin a week earlier and finish a week later to accommodate the tournament.
Should the moves be approved, it would pit clubs and countries against each other, given nations will want their internationals for pre-tournament training, leaving clubs facing the prospect of playing key League matches without their stars.
The plans will be discussed at next month’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting.
Uefa said a decision on the scheduling of that season’s Champions League and Europa League will not be made until 2021.
