Players could strike in their bid to cut down on the number of matches they play, the English Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) warned FIFA.
Soccer’s world governing body is under growing pressure to address the workload of elite players, with threats of legal action.
The PFA wants action to alter the congested soccer calendar, especially with the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup proposed for next summer.
Photo: AP
An event Thursday in London by the PFA and FIFPro, the international players’ union, heard that players were at “breaking point.”
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango recalled a recent conversation he had with players of an unnamed club.
“How far would you like to go?” Molango recounted asking the players, according to the BBC.
“Some of them said: ‘I’m not having it, we may as well strike,’” he said. “Some said: ‘What’s the point? Yes, I’m a millionaire, but I don’t even have time to spend the money.’”
“We have reached a point where we cannot discount any action,” Molango added.
FIFA was already facing the threat of legal action if there is no rescheduling of next year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
A letter recently sent to FIFA president Gianni Infantino by the World Leagues’ Association and FIFPRO said soccer’s worldwide schedule was now “beyond saturation.”
FIFA in response said it would guarantee player welfare with its “harmonious” scheduling.
The soccer schedule would expand once more next season, with the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League having eight first-phase games compared with six this term.
The Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Europe Conference League would all be increased to 36 teams.
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