When were international breaks introduced?

Can't ever remember them when I was growing up. Clubs played on Saturday, you got the occasional international game midweek and then it was back to business the following weekend.
They're a right pain in the arse.

 

When the big clubs realised the authorities were toothless and the clubs had the power to do what the hell they wanted.

 

I reckon it was around the time Eriksen was moaning about burnout and saying we won't win the World Cup ruining the young players with too many games. Could have been just before when Wenger started saying the same.

 

With so many teams qualifying for the finals they should just do it as a straight knockout. There are 54 UEFA members since Russia was suspended. You give the top 10 ranked teams a bye, the remaining 44 play 22 games, 22 winners +10 = 32 > 16 > Quarters > Semi > Final. That's 55 games in total compared to the current 51 and eliminates the need entirely for any qualifying. Of course it'd impact UEFA's bottom line so it'd never happen.

 

From what I can gather it was mooted in 2012 and introduced in 2015.

 

I said on here a few days ago that it is a rubbish system. Clubs even down to our level have big enough squads to cope with international call ups. Why should the likes of Bolton and Ipswich have the right to call off fixtures against us just because they might have a couple called up for U21 games? Even if they are full internationals they can cope with the loss of a couple of players, surely? I know we could manage with Styles and Russell missing for a game or two.

As for the Premier Leaguers, it's even more ridiculous. The fact that they can field players on a Saturday with numbers on their backs in the 50s and 60s, and even higher, suggests to me that their massive squad sizes could cope for the odd fixture.

The whole system is a farce. I was watching (with only half an eye) that Eng v Aussie rubbish the other night thinking why is the football programme wiped out for this kind of match? I know there is a Euro match on Tuesday night as well but the same arguments above apply. It's time a lot of the power of the Premier League was taken away.

 

In other words they're pants. Totally agree.

 

I don't think its anything to do with the Premier League is it? Clubs could do without their players taking part in pointless friendly games like the England one. Also a players squad number doesn't denote how many people are actually in the squad.

 

While it might not be a problem for say Styles to go to Hungary - its only a ~3 hour flight and he'd be home quicker than from Exeter - many of the international players are doing 10+ hour each way trips to represent their countries. How far is it for Russell to travel to Jamaica each way?

And while the big clubs can easily stomach the loss of a few players, it would disproportionally affect the small top-flight clubs. Citeh might manage with 5-6 players, but Burnley, Bournemouth or Brighton could struggle after losing 2-3.

So it might not necessarily be the big boys wanting this.

 

When it's internationals at rugby union the top flight clubs still play.

 

Possibly when an international manager was casting about for excuses.
Bloody hate international breaks me!

 

I noticed Morecambe v Crawley was one of the matches postponed. How has either of those two managed to acquire at least 3 international players?

 

They'll play internationally for such illustrious nations as our very own Scott Wiseman did/does.

*Edit - He's now retired. He played for Gibraltar.

 

In both cases I wonder if they would have called them off if they'd have been home matches? No consideration whatsoever for businesses disrupted by their selfish actions. Home clubs should have the option of a veto.

 

I know all that but something has to be done about all these gaps in the fixture programme, especially at 3rd and 4th Division level.

It can be a huge inconvenience to fans who may have made financial commitments to attend Saturday games who cannot now do it on some midweek date in the future. Just another way of saying "you people don't matter, just keep out of it!" Season ticket holders especially miss out on those Saturday dates and might not be able to make the rearranged date.

 

Precisely, as do county cricket teams. Yorkshire could be county champions every year if their internationals were allowed to play - I know that there could be clashes of dates, obviously, but it's the principle of the thing.

 

He was a real rock.