Soccer News
Clubs and UEFA agreed to scrap August friendlies; players insured
Feb 28, 2012, 9:28 GMT
Berlin - The unpopular August date for international football friendlies is to be scrapped, the European Club Association and the continental ruling body UEFA agreed.
ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the ECA assembly in Warsaw on Tuesday the decision is part of a new memorandum of understaing between ECA and UEFA from June 1, 2012, until May 30, 2018.
The decision to do away with the games at the start of the European season requires approval from the world governing body FIFA.
Rummenigge also said that UEFA has agreed to distribute more income from Euro 2012 to clubs and will insure players at European clubs, regardless of their nationality, to cover the injury risk of them while on international team duty.
Insurance and financial issues as well as the international calendar have been long-standing disputes between the ECA, which represents more than 200 European clubs, and the governing bodies.
While Rummenigge named the agreement with UEFA 'a major break-through,' he said that the situation with FIFA 'remains unsatisfactory' because talks 'have failed to lead to a satisfactory outcome which takes account of the clubs' demands.'
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