Sam Allardyce has branded it “sad” the FA chose to stage Cup fourth-round replays during the Premier League's mid-winter break.
And the former England, Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle and Bolton boss has backed Jurgen Klopp for staying away from Liverpool's FA Cup replay win over Shrewsbury.
As a Premier League manager, Allardyce fought for more than 15 years to convince English football authorities to sanction a European-style winter break.
And he is right behind Klopp's stand to swap the Anfield dug-out for a sun-bed - and play Liverpool's Under-23s in the fourth-round cup replay while he and his Kop stars soaked up some rays.
“I agree with what he's done completely. Jurgen's only sticking up what we have been fighting for for many years and that's a mid-winter break” said Allardyce.
“All his plans would have been sorted out months before and then the FA make a replay date during the break.
“For me it shows the massive difference still between the FA and Premier League. And it doesn't bode well for football in general does it?
“The two major football bodies in English football at loggerheads still – it's quite sad to be honest, but it's been that way for a long time.
“British managers like myself have been lobbying for a winter break for years to bring us in line with European Leagues.
“And it's because top coaches like Jurgen, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have joined the same crusade that something has been done.
“The evidence has been with the FA and Premier League for the last 15 years that injuries have been greater after the Christmas period in England than it was in European Leagues.
“They had their break and we didn't but when we finally get one the two bodies that run our game still can't agree. It's a really sad state of affairs.”
