EPL Chief Takes Aim At Club World Cup

Masters wary of effects of expanded 2025 tournament, raises concerns over regulator

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English Premier League chief executive Richard Masters fears that the 2025 Club World Cup could create "great difficulty" for Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of next season's top-flight campaign.

The two clubs will be England's representatives in Fifa's expanded 32-team tournament in the United States, with players' unions threatening legal action on welfare grounds and national leagues unhappy about the potential knock-on effects on their own competitions.

The Club World Cup final is due to be played on July 13, with the 2025-26 Premier League season starting on Aug 16.

"The leagues and the players' unions are not happy with the decisions that are being taken at a global level," Masters told Sky Sports on Jan 2.

"We've seen the Club World Cup come in, and obviously that is going to have an impact on the Premier League.

"If either Manchester City or Chelsea get to the final of that competition, the Premier League starts four weeks later, and all players are supposed to have three weeks off as part of the contractual commitment.

"So how does that work? With great difficulty, I would say."