ManU's 22,000-Mile World Tour Backlash Sees Winter Break Campaign Take Hit

ManU's "money-spinning pre-season world tour," which takes the club on a 22,000-mile trek before the Premier League season starts Aug. 18, "could sound the death-knell for the campaign for a winter break," according to Joe Bernstein of the London DAILY MAIL. The Football Association and a number of leading Premier League clubs favor the break and argue that a two-week rest in January will "help players stay fresh for the end-of-season run-in and summer international tournaments." However, Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore is "fiercely against the idea because of the loss of TV revenue," and he has support among mid-ranking top-flight clubs. A leading source said, "The majority of clubs don't want it to happen. Nobody is convinced having a couple of weeks off will help the England team" (DAILY MAIL, 7/7).