French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over 'massacre' of player welfare
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Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads.
No rest for PSG
Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain is one of the biggest sides involved in the Club World Cup.
After winning the Champions League on May 31, key PSG players like Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue played for France and then went to the United States soon after for the Club World Cup.
Some French clubs have already resumed training for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which begins mid-August, while others start next week. PSG was not able to push back its start to the Ligue 1 season.
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'We don't see how or why the Parisians should not benefit from the three weeks of complete rest they are entitled to,' the UNFP said, adding that the toll of extra games for PSG's players could impact the national team in early September.
'A delay in preparation that must also worry (France coach) Didier Deschamps ahead of two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. What do you say, Mr. Infantino?'
FIFA hopes the event will be to club soccer what the World Cup is to international soccer and establish itself as one of the biggest and wealthiest tournaments in sport.
The old version of the Club World Cup, which was played yearly, was dominated by European teams in recent times. Only Brazilian team Corinthians broke Europe's winning run in 17 years.
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