Why is there no SPFL winter break in 2025? Decision to scrap January lay-off for Scottish Premiership clubs explained
Fans will get to enjoy Premiership action right throughout January with no winter break in the SPFL in 2025.
Traditionally the top flight shut down for a fortnight early in the new year, giving sides the chance of a breather after the hectic festive period - before being eased back into action when the fourth round of the Scottish Cup kicked off. Some clubs even used it as a chance to jet-off and enjoy a warm weather training, but there will be no escaping the Scottish winter for players and management this year.
A packed fixture schedule means that top flight stars will be put through their paces more than ever in January and February, whilst fans can continue to enjoy a feast of football to brighten up the dark winter nights. But it could also ramp up the pressure on clubs and managers to get things right in the January window, with no additional time to bed new faces in. Despite Celtic sitting in a dominant position in the Premiership table there's still plenty to play for, with Rangers and Aberdeen battling it out for second place, and Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibs likely to be facing a major month as they aim to pull clear of relegation danger.
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Why is there no SPFL winter break in 2025?
The expansion of the UEFA club competitions is to blame for the scrapping of the winter break this year, with the league phase of the Champions League and Europa League each running until the end of January – putting additional pressure on the domestic calendar.
For this season the Champions League's previous 32 club tournament has been axed in favour of a new 36 team single league format - where clubs are guaranteed at least eight games, rather than the previous six. And both these additional games come early in the new year. It's the same story for the Europa League, ramping up the pressure on the fixture calendar - especially if any domestic matches fall victim to the weather.
What has been said about the decision?
SPFL chief operating officer Calum Beattie said: "It is fair to say that the additional slots required for the UEFA club competitions have made scheduling more challenging than usual. In particular, there is very limited flexibility within the Premiership fixture calendar, and we are therefore unable to accommodate a scheduled winter break.”
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers meanwhile branded the decision 'disappointing' saying: "We’ll have to find periods within the season to recover the players, because they’re not robots. We’ll have to find periods within the season to recover the players, because they’re not robots. The season starts earlier as well, so we have to keep an eye on the physicality of the players. From my time being up here the first time the winter break has worked really well."
When are teams in European action in January?
Celtic are in Champions League action early in 2025, welcoming Swiss side Young Boys to Glasgow on January 22 and then travelling south to take on John McGinn's Aston Villa on January. Rangers meanwhile return to Europa League duty with a huge clash against Manchester United on Thursday January 23, before Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise come to Ibrox seven days later. The Conference League however doesn't return until February, when Hearts could be back in action.
