Unlike fellow major league competitions in Europe, the English Premier League does not stop in January. A hectic schedule during winter takes place instead.

Several managers repeatedly criticized the Football Association for failing to follow in the footsteps of the likes of the German Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A and the Spanish Primera Liga.

Ferguson repeated such criticism following England's dismal showing at the World Cup in South Africa.

The Three Lions exited the tournament after suffering an embarrassing 4-1 defeat by Germany in the second round.

"The FA has to give the country the best possible chance of doing well in the World Cup," Scottish tactician Ferguson said on Wednesday.

"The English season is exhausting. Most Decembers we play between eight and nine games at the worst time of the year.

"The pitches are heavier, the weather is worse and then in the second half of the season you'll find a lot of players at all clubs carrying strains, pulls, but because of the importance of the games they keep on playing.

"The FA must realize that, going into the World Cup, they have handicapped their team."