Arsenal took on Al-Nasr in Dubai last month but the FA does not want clubs playing abroad during a winter break

The FA and the Premier League are at loggerheads over whether to ban clubs from undertaking lucrative commercial trips overseas during the mid-winter break, which is due to start next season.

The Times has learnt that the FA wants the Premier League to introduce a formal rule preventing clubs from staging matches during the 13-day break next year, which the league is resisting.

A mid-winter break for late January and early February 2020 was introduced by the clubs and the FA last summer after years of discussions about how to prevent England players suffering from burnout in tournaments at the end of a long season, but no formal mechanism was agreed to ensure they will be rested.

All clubs will have at least 13 days