Might Europe adopt U.S.-style summer football season?

by Ben Reilly Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:08 pm

The schedule format that so many MLS (Major League Soccer) observers have criticized for so long could soon be adopted throughout Europe.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, a top official at Bayern Munich and chairman of Europe's 207-member club associaton, said in an interview with France Football that shifting schedules away from games in the winter to summer makes sense and that FIFA and UEFA are "seriously thinking" about changing the European league calendar.

“Everywhere, be it Germany, France or England, summer is the best period of the year,” said Rummenigge. “And that is the season we don’t play. In deepest winter, when it is very cold and snowing, we play nearly all the time in conditions that are disagreeable for both players and spectators. It is not logical."

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/01/08/bayern-munichs-karl-heinz-rummenigge-says-fifa-uefa-contemplating-switch-sum

by Beekeeper Sat Jan 11, 2014 10:57 am

NATIONAL League soccer (the "A League" competition) is played over the summer in Australia...
AT THE same time, the local and state competitions are still winter sports..
Making soccer an all-year-round sport in Oz, in one way, now.

One advantage has been that the major soccer clubs can then be affiliated with a neighbouring Aussie Rules Football or Rugby League club, sharing the same grounds and some of the same facilities, maybe sharing some promotional and charitable efforts, and even extending the potential fan base - as many of the fans can then more easily manage to follow both codes all year round..

IF IT works in a warmer climate like down here, why not try it in Europe ???

by Ben Reilly Sat Jan 11, 2014 4:56 pm

It's funny, here in North America soccer purism means European-style, so a lot of MLS fans have called for a European-style calendar -- but we have two teams, Toronto and Denver, that are largely snowed-in over winter. I know Swedish football goes spring-autumn for the same reason. I think a universal spring-autumn season would make for a lot of interesting international opportunities.

by Guest Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:14 pm

Stop trying to force your systems upon us you Imperialist American pigs!

by Ben Reilly Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:34 pm

Queen Of Hearts wrote:Stop trying to force your systems upon us you Imperialist American pigs!

Nice one, you did read that it's a German proposing the switch, right? Unless you're just joking ...

by Guest Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:36 pm

Ben_Reilly wrote:
Queen Of Hearts wrote:Stop trying to force your systems upon us you Imperialist American pigs!

Nice one, you did read that it's a German proposing the switch, right? Unless you're just joking ...

Who on earth says "Imperialist American pigs" seriously?

by Ben Reilly Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:39 pm

Queen Of Hearts wrote:
Ben_Reilly wrote:
Queen Of Hearts wrote:Stop trying to force your systems upon us you Imperialist American pigs!

Nice one, you did read that it's a German proposing the switch, right? Unless you're just joking ...

Who on earth says "Imperialist American pigs" seriously?

Uh, lots of people?