Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has called for the introduction of a mid-season break. While the other major leagues in Europe all take time off during the middle of winter, it is a busy time in the Premiership.
Ferguson does not want to abandon the traditional festive programme, which generally attracts larger attendances than normal and provides much-needed income for clubs.
Instead he thinks that English football should take a break later in January.
"This is an important time for English football because you always get bigger crowds during the Christmas period," said Ferguson.
"But it is a really hectic spell and what we should be looking at is having a break in January."
Manchester United face league games against Everton and Middlesbrough over a 48-hour period this week.
They then play Aston Villa in the FA Cup on 4 January and follow that with a Premiership trip to Bolton three days later.
The congestion contrasts sharply with the continent's other major leagues, which will all break for at least a fortnight during the next month.
Even the Scottish Premier League experimented with a break over the past three seasons, only for the cash-strapped non-Old Firm clubs to call a halt to the idea this term.
MMIX
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