FFA and Fox Sports agree to incorporate international breaks into A-League from next season

FFA CEO David Gallop.
FFA CEO David Gallop.Source: Getty Images
Staff writers from Fox Sports

THE A-League will fall into line with all other major football leagues and incorporate international breaks into its schedule from next season.

It means the league will start flightly later next season, on October 19, to avoid the international window earlier in the month.

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There will be two further international breaks, from 12-20 November and 18-26 March. The later start means the finals series will begin in May with the 2019 Grand Final to be held on the weekend of 18/19 May, 2019.

Football Federation Australia announced the change in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“With our broadcasters and commercial partners we have been conscious always of the need to balance the benefits of week to week continuity in the league against the benefits of stopping for international breaks,” said FFA CEO David Gallop. “After extensive discussions with the clubs and with FOX SPORTS over recent weeks we have all agreed to incorporate the international breaks.”

A-League head Greg O’Rourke said the league would continue during next January’s AFC Asian Cup in the UAE where the Socceroos will be the defending champions.

“The later finish to the season also means that more of the Hyundai A-League will overlap with the community football season, helping us to connect the league to our massive participation base,” he said in a statement.