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Kane and Bellingham head up list of six stars who may have to SNUB England duty

06 June 2024 , 05:30
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The staggering number of games top stars could play next season has been revealed
The staggering number of games top stars could play next season has been revealed

ENGLAND stars face being forced to pick between club or country in the escalating row over Fifa’s controversial new £600million tournament.

SunSport revealed last week the growing anger from global league bosses and player unions over next summer’s planned 32-team Club World Cup in the USA.

Harry Kane may be forced to pick between England duty and playing in the Club World Cup rridzziqddidqrprw
Harry Kane may be forced to pick between England duty and playing in the Club World CupCredit: Getty
It comes with league chiefs wanting to bring it forward by two weeks to ensure a proper break
It comes with league chiefs wanting to bring it forward by two weeks to ensure a proper breakCredit: Getty
And it is set to give the England manager a major headache
And it is set to give the England manager a major headacheCredit: Getty

Now top league chiefs want it brought forward two weeks in June to ensure a proper summer break — but that would clash with Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

So England skipper Harry Kane and Three Lions team-mates Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jack Grealish would have to choose who to play for.

PFA chief Maheta Molango says Premier League players are ready to “strike” if they are forced to take part in the revamped club competition against their will.

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While lawyers representing the World Leagues Association and international players’ union FifPro are drafting legal proceedings to stop the event taking place as planned from June 15 to July 13.

The leagues have now contacted Fifa to suggest playing the four-week tournament — set to feature Manchester City, Chelsea, Kane’s Bayern Munich and Bellingham’s Real Madrid — from June 1 to June 29.

That would allow players a proper summer break ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. One leagues source insisted: “This is the only acceptable solution.

“Now it’s up to Fifa to make a decision. If they do what we ask it will be for the players to decide who they play for.

“We have told Fifa they have already taken the first two weeks of June for international football, so that should be part of the window for the Club World Cup, not in addition to it.

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“It is a fact that the 2025-26 season is going to be even more condensed than normal.

“Because it has to end earlier, in mid-May, to allow players preparation time for the biggest and longest World Cup ever.”

Prem chief executive Richard Masters is already making contingency plans.

They could see City and Chelsea MISS the start of the 2025-26 season if they go deep into the tournament, which launched as an eight-team winter event in 2000.

I'm a 'time traveler' - the 'worst case scenario that could kill us all'I'm a 'time traveler' - the 'worst case scenario that could kill us all'

FifPro and the PFA say that stars need a minimum three-week break written into all pro deals.

Asked if strike action was a possibility, PFA boss Molango said: “We have reached that point.

“I have gone to dressing rooms and players have told me, ‘I’m not having it, we may as well strike’.”

Arsenal’s ex-head of elite performance Darren Burgess warned: “With the Club World Cup and internationals, Chelsea and City could play 86 games next season.”

PFA chief Maheta Molango has warned Prem clubs are ready to 'strike' over the new tournament
PFA chief Maheta Molango has warned Prem clubs are ready to 'strike' over the new tournamentCredit: PA

Martin Lipton

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