Health alarm in football: FIFPRO warns of overloading the players!

Health alarm in football: FIFPRO warns of overloading the players!

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the effects of the dense international game calendar on world football in a recent interview with CNN. He expressed that only a few teams and players who reach the final phases were affected by a high number of games. Infantino stated that the total number of games is balanced over time. He emphasized that many players would prefer to play games instead of training.

Infantino's statements come in a critical context. The FIFPRO player union, the Spanish league and the Association of European Ligen submitted a complaint to the EU Commission against FIFA in October 2022. They are accused of taking advantage of their dominant position at the international calendar from 2025 to 2026. The plaintiffs are particularly concerned about the upcoming tournaments, in particular the 2025 Club World Cup and the World Cup 2026.

Health risks for players

The International Player Representation FIFPRO, however, increasingly warns of the health risks caused by an overcrowded game calendar. In cooperation with the digital data and analysis platform "Football Benchmark", a report in Istanbul was presented, which highlights the effects of the high competition density, especially in the 2022/2023 season. This season was known as one of the most busy through the World Cup in Qatar, which took place in the middle of the regular game.

According to the report, the risks for football professionals are complex. They affect not only the career duration, but also mental health and the personal life of the athletes. The psychological stress that today's top soccer players grasp are higher than in earlier generations. Young talents such as Vinicius Junior (22) and Jude Bellingham (19) have already played twice as many competition matches as players from previous generations.

claims for relief

In addition, FIFPRO warned of an increased risk of injuries and burnout, while perseverance slogans such as those of Infantino are considered inadequate in the debate about the health care of the players. The Secretary General of FIFPRO, Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, emphasized the duty of care for the players and urgently called for measures to promote their health. This includes binding break breaks during the season, the limitation of successive games and minimizing international trips.

The challenges of the game calendar are expected to continue to burden the 2024/2025 season. The expansion of the Champions League and the World Club Championship could lead to one season with up to 89 games for the most successful players, which means an increase of up to 11 percent. Such a scenario could further tighten the already tense situation and further endanger the health of the players.

Kleine Zeitung reports that FIFA and Infantino in particular should critically observe the needs and the security of football professionals. For more information about the risks of a full game calendar, we refer to the report of Süddeutsche.