Football
Club football halted for three weeks: Why is this international break so long?
The Dutch national team’s 16-day international break has caused club football to pause for three weeks, extending beyond the traditional nine-day period. This change, approved by FIFA in 2023, combines September and October windows to reduce player travel and minimize competition interruptions. While clubs benefit from fewer total days without players, some trainers face challenges managing squads during the extended hiatus. Arsène Wenger supports the change but argues it does not go far enough in reducing the number of international breaks. Teams like PEC Zwolle and Ajax use the time for training and recovery, while others, like AZ Alkmaar, grant their players a vacation.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's