THE Football Association has announced a deal with the Premier League and English Football League to introduce a mid-season break in February from the 2019/20 season.

After years of deadlock on the issue, the FA and the leagues have finally found a compromise that should give players more rest without upsetting the broadcasters and sponsors too much.

To make room for the two-week break, the FA Cup's fifth-round ties will be played midweek and will be settled on the night, while a round of Premier League fixtures will be played over two weekends, with five games one weekend and five the next.

The break will only apply to the Premier League, though, with a full EFL programme continuing over the break.

In a statement, EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said he supported the creation of a mid-season break for the top flight but "it is currently impractical even if it was desirable for the EFL" to do likewise because of the scheduling challenges of playing 46-game seasons and play-offs.

While some may be disappointed the EFL has been unable to find a way to give its players a mid-winter break, the fact the FA and Premier League have managed to find an answer to one of English football's oldest debates should be welcomed.

The FA's chief executive Martin Glenn said: "This is a significant moment for English football and one that we believe will greatly benefit both club and country. It's no secret that we have a very congested fixture calendar and over recent years we have been working with the whole game to find a solution.

"Today's announcement proves that football can come together for the good of the game. We have also found a way to give the players a much needed mid-season break, whilst keeping the much-loved Christmas schedule in place."

The deal is also another feather in the cap of Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore, who has announced he is stepping down as boss later this year after nearly two decades in the job.

"We have been discussing the football calendar with the FA and EFL for several months, including ways we can work together to ease fixture congestion, keep the Premier League action going right through the season and provide a mid-season player break," Scudamore said.

"We are very pleased to have an outcome that will include an exciting first for fans - a full fixture programme split over two weekends with all matches broadcast live in the UK."

That last point is a reference to another of the deals he has announced in the last 24 hours: the sale of the remaining UK broadcast rights for 2019-22, with BT buying a package that will allow it to show all five games from one of the split weekends.