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Premier League clubs could be in action eight days before start of 2022 Qatar World Cup

Premier League games could take place just nine days before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The biggest event in football ordinarily occurs during the summer months, between June and July, but was moved to winter in order to avoid the searing heat - with the tournament running between November 21 and December 18.

As a result, instead of players completing their domestic season in May and linking up with their national teams for training ahead of the tournament, a rejigged schedule could see games within ten days either side of the tournament.

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A Mail Online report suggests the provisional plans would see top flight and Championship action take place on November 12 and resume on Boxing Day 2022, just eight days after the scheduled World Cup final on December 18.

It also adds the two-week winter break, which will take effect in February 2020 for the first time, will be suspended for 2022 before returning the following year.

To account for extra time lost, the season will start one week earlier and finish one week later - while clubs are said to have reacted positively to the plans.

DOHA, QATAR  - OCTOBER 15: General view of the Al Janoub Stadium before the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup Qualifier between Qatar and Oman on the 15th of October 2019, Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Simon Holmes/Simon Holmes)
Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup - but the footballing calendar has been thrown into chaos. (Photo by Simon Holmes/Simon Holmes)
Newcastle United's Salomon Rondon scores his side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth at St James Park stadium, Newcastle, England. Saturday Nov. 10 2018 (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
The Premier League calendar could be compact as the World Cup is squeezed into November and December. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

UEFA, who operate the fixtures calendars for the Champions League and Europa League competitions, have said they won’t make a decisions on their tournaments until 2021.

The Premier League declined to comment.

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