FIFPRO calls for mandatory season breaks and limits on consecutive games to protect player welfare.
The union call comes after the season-ending reports for the 2022-23 season. The publication titled "Extreme calendar overload: The negative impact on player health and well-being" is the title of Football's data and analytics platform, according to Benchmark. It warns that competitive schedules and increased individual workloads can be detrimental to a player's career, mental health, and personal life, and comes after one of the busiest seasons due to the Winter World Cup in Qatar.
According to the report, players their age today play twice as much professional football as their counterparts from previous generations, increasing their risk of injury and burnout. Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, 22, has played 18,876 minutes for club and country, twice as many as former Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho of the same age. At the age of 20, Spanish midfielder Pedri has played more than 12,000 minutes, 25% more than Xavi of the same age.
24-year-old Frenchman Kylian Mbappe has played 26,952 minutes, 48% more than Thierry Henry of the same age. England star Jude Bellingham will play more than 30% more competitive minutes than costar Wayne Rooney on his 20th birthday later this month.
Concerned for the future, FIFPRO stressed that with the expansion of the Champions League and Club World Cup, the 2024-25 season could mean an 89-game season for players at its most successful clubs.
"There is evidence that the cannibalization of the match calendar places greater mental and physical stress on today's elite players than any previous generation," said FIFPRO General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann. "While some may have to reduce their commitment or leave the game early, there is no sign of a solution to protect them."
"The 2024/2025 fixture list will weigh more heavily on their health and career." Collectively, we all have an obligation to care for these stakeholders and the industry needs to step up action to ensure their health and well-being."
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