Eight-week break call for players

ALL professional footballers must be given at least eight weeks to rest and retrain between seasons as well as a minimum one-week mid-season break, according to a new report.

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The call for minimum protections to be introduced worldwide comes as some of the world's top stars prepare to take part in the newly-expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which starts on Saturday.

The tournament does not end until July 13, meaning Manchester City and Chelsea players could have a gap of just five weeks before the new Premier League season kicks off on August 16.

That is two weeks less than the minimum off-season rest and retraining period a group of 70 medical and performance experts have recommended in a new study.