FIFA moves to abolish February, August friendlies

FIFA wants to abolish international friendly matches in February and August in a move that will appease European clubs.

Football's world governing body announced Monday a proposed calendar of international matches from 2015-18 after a meeting of world football stakeholders, which was boycotted by the 200-member European Club Association following a public falling-out with FIFA.

The suggested calendar calls for double-header dates - playing two matches in a protected six-day period - each March, September, October and November, plus June in odd-numbered years.

FIFA said the calendar has ''no specific dates for friendlies,'' which have proved unpopular with clubs and even many national team coaches.

Any noncompetitive matches ''can only be played within the framework of the double dates,'' FIFA said.

Clubs, which are obliged to release their players for calendar matches, have lobbied FIFA to abolish the one-off friendly dates.

The ECA has argued that international friendlies mean unnecessary injury risks for their players, and take them away at key times of the season.

FIFA and European club leaders have struggled to maintain a working relationship in recent months, though the clubs had input into the calendar talks through UEFA.

FIFA said the group meeting Monday used ''a proposal originally submitted by UEFA as a basis for discussion.''

FIFA's executive committee must approve the calendar at a March 29-30 meeting in Zurich.

The talks involving FIFA's six continental confederations, plus representatives of leagues and the global players' union, FIFPro, also discussed shaping the calendar through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

''It was suggested that the same principles be retained for the 2019-2022 format,'' FIFA said

Qatari official Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the 2022 organizing body, attended the talks as an invited observer.

Influential power brokers, including UEFA President Michel Platini and FIFPro general secretary Theo van Seggelen, have suggested that the 2022 World Cup should be played in November and December to avoid intense heat in Qatar during June and July when the tournament is scheduled.

Qatar has shown no interest in changing its hosting plan, which would require an overhaul of the international calendar and national league schedules.

FIFA also declined to add the Olympics and youth tournaments to the calendar, which would then require clubs to make their players available.

However, clubs' request that players should be restricted to one international tournament per year was not met.

FIFA said players should be allowed to play in its Confederations Cup - a test event hosted one year before the World Cup - as well as the Africa Cup of Nations and CONCACAF's Gold Cup tournament.