FIFA is set to impose a three-and-a-half-week break for players ahead of the next World Cup finals in 2006 as it attempts to come to terms with the issue of "player burnout".

Speaking at the end of two days of meetings, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the organisation is keen to tackle the problem which has been on the increase leading to a number of players retiring early from international soccer.

"There has been a lot of talk about players being too tired and referees lacking consistency at recent major tournaments and on the whole I would agree with that talk," Blatter said.

Under the proposals, which FIFA plans to ratify at its Executive Committee meeting in December, national associations will have to end their domestic league and cup schedules by May 14 2006.

There would then be an eight-day rest period, before players join their national sides for 17 days of preparation, leading up to the start of the World Cup in Germany on June 9.

FIFA's strategic studies committee agreed on Tuesday over the need to reduce the number of matches played globally each year in an attempt to protect players more effectively and avoid burnout.

UEFA development director Andy Roxburgh said the premature retirement from the international game of leading players was as much to do with mental as physical burnout.