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Premier League clubs will NOT be allowed to organise lucrative friendlies during next year's mid-season player break.

The 2019-20 season sees the Premier League hand each club a week off over a two week period for the first time.

The move has been brought in to give stars rest following the traditionally hectic Christmas and New Year period, ensuring players in England enjoy a break similar to those which occur in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.

As such, in January 2020, 10 teams will be handed a break one weekend, before the other 10 clubs follow suit the next weekend.

Former Premier League chief Richard Scudamore announced last year that their would be "conditions" by which clubs would have to abide.

(Image: AFP)

“It’s all come together at a nice time and it’s now definite," declared Scudamore. "We will have this split weekend and we are calling it a ‘mid-season player break’.

"We’re not calling it a winter break. Why is that? Because we’re not breaking.

“We’re playing five games one week and five the other.

"I think that’s positive I think it’s good for English football. I have to compliment Martin Glenn, he doesn’t see anything other than a successful Premier League as being good for English football.”

(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

And according to the Daily Mail, at this week's meeting between club shareholders, clubs will be informed that money-spinning friendlies - such as that played by Arsenal in Dubai against Al-Nasr recently - will be banned.

Clubs will however be able to head abroad for warm weather training camps.

The FA has long fought for a winter break, believing that it will help players avoid fatigue injuries during the second half of the season, as well as helping players both in Europe and at major tournaments.

A UEFA study published in 2013 indicated that players are four times more likely to be injured in the final three months of the Premier League season than the same period in other European leagues.

The Football League continues without a winter break.