Overloaded schedules, threats of strikes… the revolt is being organized against UEFA!

Faced with the infernal pace of the calendars, Rodri has perhaps set foot where no one has yet done so. For several months, raised voices and protests have often punctuated the players’ press conferences, but calls for strikes, never yet. This is surely the way to go in order to try to make themselves heard by UEFA and FIFA, who are deaf and mute on this subject. “We can’t play 60 or 70 matchesRodri defended this week at a press conference. Between 40 and 50 games, a player can play at the top. Then you decline, because it is not possible to maintain your physical level. We have to take care of ourselves, we are the main characters of this sport, or this business, whatever you call it.”

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Earlier in the week, Brazilian internationals Marquinhos and Alisson also spoke about these extended seasons, which are not destined to get shorter with the new Champions League format, and the new Club World Cup with its abstruse stakes, which will pit 32 teams against each other from next summer… over a full month: “We are not the experts on the calendar, but it is important to know what the players think. We will have to sit down between players and decision-makers. (…) We do what we like, but these are additional matches, a busy calendar, if you add the selection, the trips, matches every three days, it really adds up”lamented the Parisian captain, while his national team goalkeeper regretted that the players’ voices did not carry enough weight:“Our opinion may not matter. But everyone knows what we think. Everyone is sick of it.”. If a club like Paris or Liverpool were to reach the final of all the competitions in which they are involved this season, the total score could climb to more than 70 matches.

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A general feeling of fed upness

Yesterday, this mobilization movement led to other reactions, like that of Jules Koundé, known for his assertive positions: ” I agree with Rodri. Every year we have more games and less rest. We have been saying this for 3-4 years and no one listens to us… The time will come when we will have to strike to make ourselves heardthreatened the French international. We see that there are more and more injuries due to the lack of rest. Those who are going to play in the Club World Cup will have less rest and will play 70 games, which would be madness.“At the Madrid rival, captain Dani Carvajal also spoke out today: “Going on strike for us, the players, is a possibility. The players’ opinions are not taken into account, we must raise our voices.” The same story from Thibaut Courtois, who discussed the subject with the streamer Ibai: “Rodri is right (…) There are too many games, and more injuries. People say that we earn a lot of money, that we can’t complain, and that’s true, but we have to find a balance, because the best players won’t always be able to play.”

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Present in the mixed zone after PSG’s victory against Girona last night (1-0), Achraf Hakimi wanted to be more measured, even if he certainly thought no less:“We are here to play. It is true that there are a lot of matches, as many players have said. It is made for the supporters and I hope they are happy with that. We have to manage the matches well, the playing time, especially in relation to injuries. That’s how it is.”Even the less impacted players, playing in clubs or for selections not necessarily cut out to play on all tables, have taken note. I understand Rodri perfectly.said Leipzig’s Hungarian defender Willi Orban at a press conference this week. If you’re a Manchester City player, there’s no winter break in England. And you also play an incredible amount of games with your national team, especially when they always go far in tournaments. And then now there’s the Club World Cup. Of course, it’s very difficult in terms of workload management, and it’s crazy for the players..”

At the same time, the president of FIFPro Europe, the European branch of the world players’ union, David Terrier, toldThe Team This week, a complaint was filed against FIFA, while a second should follow shortly: ” The decision for this Club World Cup was made between FIFA and the ECApointed out the vice-president of the UNFP.A complaint has been filed with the Brussels High Court by the UNFP. Another is being prepared by the European leagues and some players’ unions. Some players could well refuse to play in this Club World Cup. More and more of them are taking a public stand. Coaches are also criticising the overly busy schedule. A movement is starting to take hold.“It remains to be seen whether this will be enough to shake things up.