FIFA vice-president Victor Montaglioni has said that moving the European football season to the calendar year is an "opportunity to discuss", as the coronavirus pandemic has suspended football almost all over the world.
In an interview with Radio Sportiva in Italy, Montagliani, who is believed to be close to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, said the move could fit in with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November and December.
The leader of world football's home has previously said that football will be completely different when it resumes and that the current break could be a good opportunity to fix the congested calendar, which runs until 2024.
"We have opportunities as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played in November and December. This could be an idea", said Montagliani, who is the president of the CONCACAF confederation.
"Here in America, the season is already played during the calendar year. This is probably a solution that can be used in Europe and Africa. It is possible to discuss at the national and continental level", he added. According to the senior FIFA official, "this is not an idea that should be rejected, as it could be a solution for the next two years and for the World Cup that will be held in winter."
A number of European leagues, including those in Italy, Germany and England, are still hoping to complete the season. But this may affect the 2020/2021 campaign to be postponed. UEFA also wants to finish the Champions League and Europa League.
In most European countries, the football season is played in autumn and spring of the following year.
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"We have already started thinking about the new calendar from 2024. With the current crisis, we need immediate answers", added Motagliani.
The idea of the season during the calendar year had been pushed in the past, including by Karl-Heinz Rummeniggen, when he was head of the European Club Association.
"In any country, including Germany, France or England, summer is the best time of the year. While we don't play in that period", he told "France Football" in 2013. "In the dead of winter, when it's cold and snowing, we play. This is not fair to the players and the fans. It is not logical".
