Soccer News round-up:Fifa president Sepp Blatter has proposed ending the traditional summer break in European club football and moving the season to a February to November schedule - as is the practice in the National League.
"I've recently suggested to the clubs that they play through the summer and base the season on a calendar year," Blatter said yesterday. "The season should run from the end of February to the end of November. Then there would be enough recovery time for the players and you could play three-week blocks of (international) qualifiers.
"The idea is supported by the major European clubs."
Blatter also said he was confident his plan to limit the number of foreign players in European club football would soon come into force. "The six-plus-five plan will come into force for sure," Blatter said.
Blatter's plan would force clubs to play a minimum of six players eligible to represent the national team of their country, with a maximum of five foreign players making up the numbers.
Rules regarding freedom of movement within the EU could make such a limit impossible in Europe's big leagues.
•West Ham's new chairman Eggert Magnusson yesterday said he would never enter into another transfer deal like the one that brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the club.
Magnusson said the Argentina internationals will remain until the close season. But the Icelander is unhappy with the mechanics of their contracts.
Tevez and Mascherano were brought to West Ham for £5 million in agents' fees. But the capacity for Kia Joorabchian, who holds the players' economic rights, to move them on is not a situation Magnusson will abide for long.
"I think that the club should have total rights over the player, I am not happy with agents or consortiums owning players," said Magnusson. "That is not the way I want to move forward. As a football man, it is not the correct way. As chairman I can choose how we go about things."
The manager, Alan Pardew is eager to retain Tevez but Mascherano's form has been disappointing.
Under Fifa regulations both players cannot join another club this season.
