Domestic leagues at risk from 'unprecedented' expansion of international competitions

FOOTBALL'S global popularity is being placed at risk by skewing the sport's balance towards more matches at international level, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has warned.

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The impact of UEFA's expansion of club competitions was again felt at domestic level this month, with Arsenal and Crystal Palace's Carabao Cup tie and their league fixtures preceding it having to be rearranged in part due to Palace’s participation in the UEFA Conference League.

Leagues are also concerned about the impact of the expanded, summertime Club World Cup on their competitions from an economic and player welfare perspective, particularly amid talk of a further expansion from 32 to 48 teams and playing it every two years instead of every four.