Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticised FIFA for holding the Copa America this summer and has hit out at the new start date for the 2015-16 Premier League season.
The Frenchman is concerned that a number of his players will not have time for recovery due to the hectic summer schedule.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and forward Alexis Sanchez are due to represent Colombia and Chile respectively in the Copa America, which begins on June 11 and will run until the final on July 4.
Wenger has expressed concern over the organisation by FIFA and also believes that moving the start of the Premier League season to a week earlier on August 8 is a mistake.
"Moving the fixture calendar forward deeply affects pre-season and I believe it is the wrong decision of the Premier League to start on August 8," ESPN quotes Wenger as saying.
"I am really surprised that FIFA authorised [the Copa America dates]. It is disappointing that they speak a lot about the health of the players, but when you look at the competition that is organised, this Copa America, and look at the date of the start of the Premier League, it is not reasonable."
Arsenal, whose pre-season tour includes a trip to Singapore in mid-July, will end their campaign this Saturday at Wembley with the FA Cup final.
Danielle Joynson
