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Just over two decades ago, a renowned athlete confessed to feeling exhausted from excessive involvement in football. Patrick Vieira, after participating in 66 games the previous season, stated, “I am not just fatigued, I am completely drained.” He went on to describe experiencing pain in his back, legs, and all over his body. Surprisingly, both Fifa and Uefa took notice of his words.
After two weeks, Fifa’s medical leader, Jiri Dvorak, recommended limiting the number of games played in a season due to the high number of injuries that occur without physical contact. He noted that there are regulations for the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work, but none for football players. Dvorak believes guidelines for the number of games played in a season would promote the health and well-being of players.
As for Uefa, in that very year it chose to eliminate the second group stage of the Champions League due to findings from its medical professionals that connected the large amount of injuries leading up to and during the 2002 World Cup – including those of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Robert Pires – to player fatigue.
However, times have changed. Matches are now significantly longer due to the additional minutes played during added time. And in the next 31 months, the trend will continue with an even greater increase as the Champions League expands, the Club World Cup includes 32 teams, and the World Cup includes 48 teams – creating a constant stream of games with minimal breaks for top players until July 2026.
The ultimate paradox lies in the fact that Fifa and Uefa, the organizations responsible for safeguarding players, are the very ones eagerly accelerating their pace.
This indicates that Phil Foden, who has participated in 36 matches this season – the most among all English players in the Premier League – could potentially play in over 200 games within the next 31 months. How? If Manchester City advances far in the FA Cup and Champions League, and if England reaches the semi-finals of Euro 2024, Foden will have another 40 games to play this season.
The Professional Footballers’ Association predicts that top players may participate in up to 86 matches in the upcoming season due to the extended 32-team Fifa Club World Cup, which will conclude on July 13, 2025.
After the 2025-26 Premier League season, the World Cup will take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico, leaving little time for recovery.
Having a PhD in sports science is not necessary to anticipate the outcome. An excess of football results in tired players, increasing the likelihood of lower-quality games and injuries. As viewers, we are ultimately affected by this decline in quality. This was evident in some of the FA Cup matches over the weekend, where players appeared fatigued. It is understandable, given the circumstances.
Some individuals may argue that playing a few additional games per year is a minor sacrifice for receiving salaries over £250,000 per week. According to FIFA, increasing the number of scheduled matches does not pose a threat to player well-being. Arsène Wenger, the chief of football development, has stated that advancements in medical technology, nutrition, and injury prevention have significantly improved over the last two decades. However, at what point does this go beyond physical limitations and become a matter of personal beliefs? What is the threshold for the maximum number of games in a season? Is it 100? 120?
The game must prioritize the protection of its top players. According to a report by the international players’ union, Fifpro, Jude Bellingham had already logged over 30% more competitive football minutes by his 20th birthday compared to Wayne Rooney at the same age. At 24 years old, Kylian Mbappé had played a whopping 26,952 minutes – a 48% increase from Thierry Henry at the same age.
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The opinion of Wenger is not shared by the players. Manchester United’s defender Raphaël Varane expressed concern about the demanding workload, while Bernardo Silva cautioned against the toll it would take on energy and intensity.
According to the PFA, this is the main topic of discussion in dressing rooms. It is understandable that most players choose not to discuss it, as they recognize the fortunate nature of their job and high salary.
The Chief Executive of the PFA, Maheta Molango, cautioned that individuals are considering legal action due to feeling unprotected. One potential course of action being considered is the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice regarding the European Super League, which seemed to imply that the powers and authority of Fifa and Uefa should be restricted.
More players should be publicly pushing back against expanded seasons. They should be calling for a guaranteed four-week break between seasons. And they should urge Fifa and Uefa to speak to experts to determine how many games is too much.
If current players require motivation to take more risks, they can turn to history. In the same month sixty-three years ago, 344 players met at the Grand Hotel in Manchester to talk about potential industrial action due to the cap on wages at £20 a week. “Are there any in this room unwilling to go on strike in a week’s time on Saturday?” asked Ally McLeod, a Blackburn winger and future manager of Scotland. “No!” came the resounding response, so strong that Jimmy Hill compared it to the deafening cheers of the Kop.
The maximum salary was eliminated two days later, causing the strike to end. This event may hold a current lesson: the strength of players.
Source: theguardian.com
