Players Left with Mere 12% Rest Annually: FIFPRO Raises Alarm on Soccer Calendar

Global players' union FIFPRO highlights the excessive workload placed on soccer players due to an increasingly packed calendar, leading to as little as 12% rest annually. The union's report criticizes the lack of prioritization of player welfare and international health standards, predicting heavy future workloads for top players.

Global players' union FIFPRO has raised alarms over the increasingly condensed soccer calendar, revealing players are left with a mere 12% of the year to rest. This translates to less than one day off per week, significantly below international health and safety standards.

FIFPRO is filing a complaint with EU antitrust regulators against FIFA's international match calendar, emphasizing that competition organizers do not prioritize player welfare. The 2023-24 season report indicated that 54% of the 1,500 players monitored faced high workload demands, with many exceeding medical recommendations. A substantial portion played over 55 matches in a season, with some enduring six consecutive weeks of playing two or more games each week.

The expansion of European club competitions and FIFA's 32-team Club World Cup exacerbates the problem, resulting in increased international fixtures. Players now spend 18% of their working time in national team camps or media activities. FIFPRO's Alexander Bielefeld criticized the growing disconnect between competition planners and players, predicting future stars like Federico Valverde, Nicolo Barella, and Phil Foden could face up to 80 matches per season due to ongoing competition expansion.

(With inputs from agencies.)