5 Ways to improve the annual football calendar in England

#5 A blanket ban on club friendlies and tours in May and June during years without international tournaments

Overseas friendlies, like this one between Chelsea and New England Revolution, should be scrapped during the months of May and June

One problem that English football could face if they were to look to use the prior suggestions to improve the calendar when it comes to fixture congestion could be the insane drive for money that the Premier League’s clubs have always displayed.

Essentially, it’s theorised by many fans and pundits that if the Premier League’s clubs were granted a longer break during the season, then they’d probably attempt to take their sides on lucrative overseas tours – most likely to the Far East – to play friendly matches with local teams rather than give their players rest.

In fact, this kind of thing already happens; last May for instance saw Chelsea head to the USA – even before they’d faced off with Arsenal in the Europa League final – to face MLS side New England Revolution in a friendly match.

While the game was put together with good intentions, to raise money for a charity supporting anti-Semitism, it was almost certainly a game that the Blues didn’t need and sure enough, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a serious injury during the action that has sidelined him throughout the current campaign.

That’s why it’d be a good idea for the Premier League and the FA to get together to place a blanket ban on clubs going on overseas tours during the months of May and June – in years without international tournaments of course – and only allowing them to commence pre-season training during the latter part of that period instead.

Clubs could still head overseas to take part in lucrative friendly games, but not until far later on in the summer, hopefully easing the load on their players and giving them a much-needed rest before a new season would commence.