ECA reaches agreement with UEFA on dropping August friendlies

PanARMENIAN.Net - Premier League bosses were rejoicing across the country on Tuesday, Feb 28 morning after it emerged that FIFA are set to AXE international friendlies played in August.

The detested window has long riled managers who have lost players from their plans just days before or after the start of the new season - particularly with the added anxiety of injuries. But Europe's major clubs and governing body UEFA have agreed to drop the games from the international calendar, European Clubs Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed on Tuesday.

Rummenigge, in an address to the ECA's general assembly in Warsaw, said an agreement had been reached with UEFA over the removal of the date, although FIFA have yet to sanction it.

The deal would see an average of nine international matches played a year rather than 12.

The agreement would see nine double-headers over a two-year period with no one-off friendlies such as England's match against Holland on Wednesday, Feb 29 night, according to Daily Mail.