The ongoing dispute between England Women clubs and country has flared up again, as a number of clubs are unhappy with the Football Association’s proposal to summon players three weeks prior to the contentious international window in July.
This summer will be unusual for players as there will be no tournament. However, the English team will have matches in late May and early June, followed by Euro 2025 qualifying games against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden from July 8th to 16th. The FA plans to select players a few days prior to the matches in May and June, and then recall them on June 19th for the last two qualifiers.
According to FIFA regulations, clubs are not required to release players outside of an international playing period. However, clubs and associations are allowed to come to an agreement for a longer release period or alternate arrangements.
The July matches have sparked controversy, with criticism from Ada Hegerberg and Leah Williamon, among others. This has brought up the issue that affected preparations for last year’s World Cup. In April 2023, the European Club Association (ECA) expressed concerns about federations scheduling player call-ups before the mandatory release date of 10 July, which would shorten their time off. The English Football Association planned to call up players for a pre-tournament camp as early as 19 June.
Due to the disagreement between clubs and federations regarding the release of players, the ECA and Fifa came to a new agreement for the release period. The original mandatory release date of 10 July was considered too late for a tournament starting on 19 July. However, England, who had planned to begin their camp on 19 June, resisted the new suggested window of 23-29 June.
The current concern among clubs is that players will not have a sufficient break, despite England’s failure to secure a spot for Team GB at the upcoming Paris Olympics. There was a chance for players to have a break after two consecutive major tournaments, but it is frustrating that last year’s promise to avoid a similar situation has not been fulfilled.
The FA is concerned about the timing of the Women’s Super League ending on May 18th and the Champions League final happening a week later. They want players who are not currently in their regular season to be in good physical shape for important qualifying matches and they want to reduce the chance of injury for players who have not played much football recently.
The Football Association (FA) representative stated that the entire organization is currently facing difficulties with the schedule for women’s international matches. They are actively collaborating with clubs to come up with temporary solutions that prioritize the well-being of players, while also considering the significance of the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifying games. These talks are still ongoing. In the long-term, it is their hope that UEFA and FIFA can work together with national federations and clubs to fully comprehend the effects of the calendar on players’ on and off-field lives.
UEFA did not provide a statement regarding the choice to organize competitive games in July, despite the fact that numerous European leagues are in their offseason. The responsibility for this issue is often attributed to Fifa’s international match calendar, which will not be revised until 2026. Discussions about potential changes are currently taking place.
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Sarina Wiegman expressed dissatisfaction with the schedule during England’s training camp in Marbella in February. The manager acknowledged that it cannot be changed and emphasized the importance of managing player health and performance while minimizing the risk of injuries in collaboration with clubs. However, she also noted that both the clubs and the FA have no control over the schedule.
The international match calendar faces numerous challenges, as certain leagues like the WSL compete during the winter, while others like the NWSL in the US play during the summer in the northern hemisphere, causing complications in scheduling. It also needs to consider the interests of both domestic and international teams. Additionally, players on elite teams and those representing highly developed national teams may experience excessive workload, while those on emerging national teams or clubs without continental competitions or success in domestic cups may have a lack of competitive matches.
Fifa declined to provide a statement regarding inquiries about the international match calendar. However, according to the Guardian, it has been authorized by its member associations and takes into consideration input and feedback from various stakeholders. The organization views its role as facilitating the development of the calendar.
The Women’s Leagues Forum, established in collaboration with various professional women’s leagues in November, issued a statement emphasizing the need to consider both the expansion of domestic football and the international game in discussions about the calendar. The statement noted that women’s leagues and their teams are key players in the advancement and professionalization of women’s football. Therefore, it is essential that the calendar allows for long-term growth and sustainability of these leagues, including consistent scheduling and televised matches, as well as adequate rest and recovery for players.
Source: theguardian.com
