Football Association To Push For January Break In Response To England's Euro Failure

The FA "is set to make the introduction of a winter break a key part of wholesale changes to the structure of the game, in response to England’s latest tournament failure," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. FA CEO Martin Glenn identified a winter break as being among the changes -- though not the "silver bullet to cure all the problems -- needed to allow the national team to compete with the top countries in the world." Of the 53 European nations, 37 "have a break in their top leagues and 11 more play their season from February or March to November." Only England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Israel "play over Christmas." A winter break in England "would need the backing of the Premier League and if it happened would almost certainly come in January" to protect the Christmas program (LONDON TIMES, 6/29).