Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has admitted his surprise at the Premier League's indifference to the Club World Cup tournament.
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The Italian was left bemused by the governing body's decision to reject the Blues' plea to have their league match with Sunderland on December 8 put off as they go in pursuit of intercontinental glory.
The UEFA Champions League winners have a semi-final date on December 13 in Yokohama, Japan, and Di Matteo claims the Premier League is endangering the health of his players by refusing to tweak the fixture schedule.
"You would think that the Premier League would have every interest in making sure that they give you the best chance to be successful in Japan, which would reflect very, very well on English football and the Premier League. So, I'm very surprised about it," said Di Matteo, whose side face Liverpool in the top flight on Sunday evening.
"I just can't my head round it. To give yourself the best chance travelling to Japan, with nine hours time difference, arriving three days before, you will need to do everything in your power to be able to ready for those games.
"The tournament starts on the 6th so the team we play in the semi-finals will have been there already for a week. It's a big risk in terms of health, injury risk for the players too.
"The fixture list is obviously very full. But where there's a will, there's a way. You see all the other federations trying to help their teams to do well in Europe."
The 42-year-old is desperate to add the Club World Cup trophy to the west London club's cabinet, and feels domestic officials should hold the competition in higher regard as is done in the other countries taking part.
"It's one of the biggest trophies in international club football, if not the biggest," declared Di Matteo. "Maybe, in England, it's not regarded as so big but you speak to the South Americans, you speak to the Asians, you speak to everybody else involved, it's a massive, massive competition.
"We've never won it. Obviously you need to win the Champions League to even be able to play and be involved. To win that trophy would be something special.
"It's massive. Winning that trophy would mean the world. It's a trophy we don't have in our cabinet and we desperately want to bring it to Stamford Bridge."
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