The English Football Association (FA) have reportedly submitted a “formal request” to the Premier League, stating that they would like all matches between the so called “Big Six” clubs, which of course includes Manchester United, not to be scheduled on the weekend before the 2022 Qatar World Cup kicks off.
This is according to ESPN, who claim that England manager Gareth Southgate is worried about the 8-day period between the halt of the Premier League campaign, which is the weekend of the 12th-13th of November, and England’s first World Cup fixture against Iran on November 21st.
Premier League fixtures are generated each season in a random order that fit within a set of “golden rules”, such as no two clubs are allowed to play in close proximity on the same day as each other for policing reasons.
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Another “golden rule” is no club is allowed to play more than two home or away fixtures in a row.
Southgate has been public in his support for this request, stating in March: "What would help is if we don't get a derby or those sorts of 'big six' games, but it's not the fault of the League the World Cup is being held in the winter."
When pressed for comment by ESPN, the Premier League declined to answer on if this request would be granted or not, however they believe that the League are considering it as a special one off “golden rule” for the Premier League’s 2022/23 fixture list generation.
ESPN also asked for a comment from the FA, but they declined.
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The report does however state that the FA are said to believe that the request is “reasonable” since the 2022 World Cup is the first Football World Cup to be held in the winter due to the comparative cool temperatures in December in Qatar, as in the summer temperature in Qatar can reach as high as a scorching 45C.
By asking that no games are to be played between Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal, the FA will likely be hoping that this will reduce the chance of any tension within the England camp once they convince at St George’s Park for World Cup preparation, as the majority of the English squad will more than certainly be made up of players from these respective clubs.
Manchester United have a host of players who could be flying to Qatar to represent the Three Lion, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire all hoping to be part of the squad.
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Following on from impressive campaigns in both the 2018 World Cup and EURO 2020, Gareth Southgate will be looking to capitalise on these recent successes by leading England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.
England will face Iran, USA and home nation rival Wales in Group B.
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, FA, Football World Cup
Dylan Penketh