– What we now see is the players and coaches taking care of it themselves, because someone else has failed to protect them (the players). That responsibility lies with the international sports authorities (Uefa and Fifa) who have been very dismissive when it comes to addressing the topic in the last four or five years, says Alexander Bielefeld to news. He is director of policy and strategic relations at Fifpro, the international football players’ association. The organization represents over 65,000 players. A recent report from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), commissioned by Fifpro, states that the match load is approaching the breaking point. There is a warning against a lack of guidelines in football to give the players sufficient rest, something they have also pointed out on social media several times. news has tried to get in touch with Fifa about the criticism, initially without success. Read Uefa’s response further down in the case. Stars say no to international matches A number of football stars have stood over national team meetings this autumn, with greater or lesser physical problems. Some of them have stayed over as a result of having returned from long-term injuries, such as Martin Ødegaard. Others have refused to play for the national team, such as Kylian Mbappé. The French Football Federation hit back in many ways by scrapping the French superstar next season. Mbappé also left the field with an injury in the Champions League in midweek. The extent of the damage is currently unknown. At the same time, the Dutch national team manager, Ronald Koeman, sent Frenkie de Jong and Virgil van Dijk home before the Netherlands’ last match in the National League, so that they could get ready for club football again. FOCUSING ON MADRID: Kylian Mbappé has missed two consecutive meetings with the French national football team. Photo: Susana Vera / Reuters – It is an indirect consequence of the fact that we fill the calendar to the brim and push the players past the limit, while at the same time we have no safety standards, says Bielefeld. The Fifpro director points out that Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has deliberately given players such as Alfonso Davies a week off to get him properly match-ready and rested. But coaches like Carlo Ancelotti probably don’t have the same opportunity, because he and Real Madrid are in a stressful situation sportingly in both La Liga and the Meisterliga. – They are extremely competitive people and are willing to exceed boundaries in a way that is no longer safe. But these decisions should not rest with the employee or a manager at work, but through set mechanisms so that this happens in a more organized and standardized way, Bielefeld believes. SOUNDS THE ALARM: Alexander Bielefeld believes Fifa and Uefa must take action to protect the health of the players. Photo: Screenshot / Zoom He claims that many players have been concerned about the tightly packed match schedule for a long time. – Since we started conversations with the players, we see more players speaking in the same tone. It’s not about whether you talk to a Dane, Fredrik Aursnes or someone in the Premier League, they all have the same message, and they talk about it in the dressing room, says the Fifpro director. Uefa responds to this Uefa responds that they are trying to reduce the physical strain on the players. They show that, among other things, they went from ten opening games in an original draft to the new format in the Meisterliga. Instead, they went for eight – taking care of the calendar. – Important decisions that affect the players’ working conditions or workload in Uefa competitions will now only be taken after extensive dialogue between the two organisations. This approach reflects a modern management model that ensures that the players’ welfare is prioritized, and that decisions are made in cooperation, Uefa wrote to news. – The players’ health and safety must be at the centre. Uefa and Fifpro Europe will collaborate on medical research, player education and attitude-building campaigns to overcome challenges such as doping and discrimination, write the organisation. They also point out that the match program is a complex topic. They point out that it is very varied from team to team how many games they play during a season. Players must have had enough news’s football expert Kristoffer Løkberg believes that standing over international matches, or even withdrawing from the national team, as Aursnes has done, is an expected development. – They have to make some tough choices to get breathing room. I think it’s as much about the psychological as the physical aspect. It’s a mental strain to have to turn on every third day, it’s extreme. Knowing that you are not going to a national team meeting and having a week to switch off and take care of your body is quite difficult, says Løkberg. – Is this the new normal, that players stand over meetings to relieve themselves? – Absolutely. At least when it’s not the world’s most important international matches. The national league means a lot more to countries like Norway compared to some other nations. The big nations will do well anyway. It probably has no consequences for the result if France meets an easier nation and one player is left over. REACTS: news expert Kristoffer Løkberg believes the intense match schedule has become a mental strain for some footballers. Photo: Nicolai Eid Trondal / news The summer of 2025 will be extra special for several club teams. Big European clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will participate in the WC for club teams. In addition, there will be a national team break in June, with the National League final and World Cup qualification. – We now have a new tournament in the World Cup for club teams in 2025, with the football World Cup in 2026 in addition. The players now realize that they are the ones paying the price at a very important time in their careers. They are not willing to accept it anymore. This is the main difference compared to three or four years ago, says Bielefeld. – They are roughly abused. Løkberg believes it is difficult for competitive people such as football players to stretch their hands in the air and say they need to rest. The same applies to coaches who naturally want to win every single game. Therefore, he also believes that football needs regulations for how much a player can be on the pitch during a season. – They are roughly abused at the worst and they need help. Good that they are leading the way to find solutions. It would have been very positive, but a lot needs to be done. We see Fifa wanting to fine teams that do not field the best players, it has become absolutely insane. The rules for the Club WC state that the club must “field its best team throughout the tournament”. How this will be enforced is unknown. If a club withdraws, it could lead to fines of more than NOK 6 million. Players such as Rodri have gone to great lengths to confirm that a strike may be appropriate. – I think we are getting close to that, it is easy to understand. It is widespread (meaning). I think that if you ask any player what kind of player, he will say the same. This is not just Rodri’s intention, said the Manchester City star in September. In the same month, he suffered a serious knee injury which means that he may be out of action for the rest of the season. – I don’t know what will happen, but there is something that worries us, because we are the ones who suffered, he continued. During these Christmas seasons, the matches are coming on stream for the club scene in the Premier League. Manchester United, for example, will play a total of 9 games in December. Published 13.12.2024, at 05.38
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