The Premier League has agreed to a winter break during next season to incorporate the Qatar 2022 World Cup, before resuming fixtures again on Boxing Day, according to reports.

Sky Sports this afternoon have claimed that the break will begin after the weekend of November 12.

Representatives from all 20 Premier League clubs were in London today to discuss the programme for the 2022/23 season when the schedule was decided.

It means that, should any players reach the final of the competition with their nations on December 18, they will have just eight days to recover before the league resumes.

Players will also only get a week's worth of preparation with their countries.

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow told Sky the idea of the winter World Cup was "crazy" and that it would "bite" Premier League fans.

He said: "Next season when we play in an equally crazy idea, which is a winter World Cup, we won't see any Premier League football at the peak of our season between November and December, which is something that people are going to have to get used to.

"These are decisions that get taken a long time ago. They bite, quite soon. Next season we'll all see that.

"I always have concerns about player welfare but I have more concerns for our fans missing Premier League football in the winter for five weeks, which is our great national tradition and our great national heritage."