The top division in every soccer-playing country will be limited to a maximum of 16 clubs if a proposal from FIFA's Sepp Blatter is agreed next year.
Blatter said he will propose the idea at the Extraordinary Congress of world soccer's governing body in Doha, Qatar in October.
If it is agreed by delegates there, it will almost certainly be ratified at FIFA's Centenary Congress in Paris in May 2004.
"The ideal number of clubs in the top division is 16 giving 30 league matches a season," said Blatter. "I have spoken to many club presidents and the presidents of national associations and we will have it on the agenda at Doha.
"I except we cannot reduce the leagues in one step. There are contracts in place and marketing matters to consider. But I want to see this phased in.
"We are always being told there is too much football and the players are playing too many games. But this would not be the case if club matches were reduced".
He added that if the proposal became law it would apply to every member association, including countries such as England and Spain who have more than 16 clubs in their top division.
