Latest news with #playerworkload
New York Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
FIFA claims consensus over rest periods but global players union criticise ‘authoritarian' decisions
FIFA has claimed there is a consensus over the need for defined rest periods for players, but FIFPro, the global players' union, was not invited to the meeting where it was reached. On Sunday, FIFPro's president Sergio Marchi referred to his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino as 'the man who thinks he is God', saying that football's world governing body's decision-making process had become 'unilateral' and 'authoritarian'. Advertisement Marchi accused FIFA of basing their decisions on the issue 'solely on a logic of economic profitability, not human sustainability', and said the health of players is being overlooked 'to fuel a marketing machine'. The issue of increased player workload has been a key discussion point in the build-up to the Club World Cup and throughout the expanded tournament in the United States. FIFA addressed the topic at a meeting held on the eve of the competition's final, which will be played between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday evening. FIFA says that after discussions with the player unions in attendance that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period of at least 21 days at the end of each season. FIFPro, which has pressured FIFA to address the issue for many years, have been calling for 28 days of rest. 'FIFPRO cannot fail to point out, with absolute clarity, that this competition hides a dangerous disconnect with the true reality experienced by most footballers around the world,' the union's president Marchi said in a statement shared with The Athletic. 'What was presented as a global celebration of football was nothing more than a fiction created by FIFA, promoted by its president, without dialogue, sensitivity, and respect for those who sustain the game with their daily efforts.' Marchi said that FIFA have 'ignored the reality' of the workload facing players and said the organisation 'continue increasing its revenue at the expense of the players' bodies and health'. Saturday's meeting also recommended a rest day per week for players, FIFA said in a press release, while long-haul intercontinental trips, and the weather conditions under which matches are played, should be considered when the next international match calendar is mapped out. Advertisement Sources with knowledge of the matter indicate that FIFPro were not invited to the meeting and those who were do not represent FIFPro in any capacity. While some in attendance were previously part of FIFPro they have since lost their positions and others, The Athletic has been told, FIFPro do not recognise. Brazil, Spain, Ukraine, Mexico, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Latvia, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic all were represented, The Athletic has been told. FIFA's release did include several aspects FIFPro has been seeking, but there clearly remains major tensions between the organisations. FIFPro executives, despite not being at the meeting with Infantino, were present in New York City this weekend. FIFA has been approached for comment. Established in 1965, FIFPro represents 66,000 professional footballers around the world. In October of last year, the union teamed up with Europe's domestic leagues to file a formal complaint against world football's governing body over the game's ever-expanding calendar. 'FIFA refuses to listen and engage with the players, the main labour resource of our industry, who are there on the pitch, creating a powerhouse of European and global entertainment culture, and pushing their bodies to the limit,' FIFPro Europe president David Terrier said at the time. 'But we have listened to our players, have received the same messages for a long period of time, that they are playing too much and do not have enough time to recover. Ahead of the worst season ever for workload, many have also decided to talk in public with the same message: enough is enough.' (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
National Post
30-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over 'massacre' of player welfare
PARIS — France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. Article content The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living 'in an ivory tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. Article content Article content Article content 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' Article content The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores 'collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Article content Article content Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Article content Article content The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. Article content 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' the UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.'
Al Arabiya
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
French Soccer Union Blasts Club World Cup Over "Massacre" of Player Welfare
France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is urgent to stop this 'massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living in an 'ivory tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves to the point of absurdity that it is urgent to stop this 'massacre game.' He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season and thereby ignores collective bargaining agreements '(which) almost everywhere provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship, and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats, and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' the UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.' 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 Dembélé and Désiré Doué played for France and then went to the US 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. '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,' the UNFP said before concluding. 'What do you say, Mr. Infantino?'
Washington Post
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over "massacre" of player welfare
PARIS — France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living 'in an Ivory Tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores 'collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe , strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' The UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.' Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads. 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 Dembélé and Désiré Doué 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. '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,' the UNFP said, before concluding. 'What do you say, Mr. Infantino?' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over "massacre" of player welfare
PARIS (AP) — France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living 'in an Ivory Tower' by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide. 'The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players,' the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. 'His (Infantino's) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.' The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores 'collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.' Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. 'The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,' The UNFP added. 'But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.' 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 Dembélé and Désiré Doué 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. '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,' the UNFP said, before concluding. 'What do you say, Mr. Infantino?' ___ AP soccer:
