article_snippet: The climax of the winter World Cup will take place a week before Christmas - a decision which will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place.
article_snippet: UEFA president Michel Platini said Christmas - a decision which will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place was acceptable - but warned that FIFA must now protect four international dates that could be disrupted.
article_snippet: Britain's FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce previously insisted that clubs' Boxing Day fixtures would go ahead .
article_snippet: UEFA had initially pushed for the final to be as late as December 23 but UEFA president Michel Platini said UEFA president Michel Platini now supported December 18.
article_snippet: UEFA president Michel Platini insisted however that FIFA now had to re-arrange the calendar to protect up to four international dates that might be affected.
article_snippet: UEFA president Michel Platini told Press Association Sport: 'December 18 is a good date for the final - perhaps December 23 would be too late if you are trying to get all the fans back on December 24.
article_snippet: December 18 is fine for UEFA - we can accommodate any changes to the Champions League.
article_snippet: But FIFA must now protect the international dates for the national associations - there are four international matches that could be affected and those are the lifeblood for the national associations. '
article_snippet: FIFA must look at the international calendar and make sure those dates are protected for the national associations.'
article_snippet: Now we have to see with the international match calendar how this might be possible.'
highlights_snippet: Final date will mean traditional Boxing Day matches will still take place .
  