What you should know
An unbalanced match calendar puts players' health and career at risk
An unbalanced calendar puts the health and career prospects of players at risk. It can threaten to diminish peak sporting performance and, consequently, the quality of competitions. This is an increasing issue in men’s and women's football and FIFPRO is committed to monitoring workload through the PWM platform.
Players' earning potential is being unfairly impacted
The career of a footballer is relatively short, and imbalances in the match calendar can impact players to the point of being unable to achieve their full potential. FIFPRO extensively researches this issue to provide a framework for best practice, in order to protect players and advocate for a balanced match calendar that takes into consideration the impact of overall workload, rest and recovery periods and international travel on players.
Players must come first
Current match calendar management shows little regard for players' overall wellbeing and requires urgent reconsideration, with regular revisions by competition organisers to ensure that player health, performance and career are the centre of decision-making.
Minimum Player Workload Safeguards
A comprehensive scientific study involving 70 medical and performance experts has established 12 consensus-based safeguards to protect professional footballers from calendar congestion and excessive workload.
Independent medical experts reach consensus on workload safeguards for professional footballers
Medical and performance experts reach consensus on how to protect players from excessive workload. Study by 70 specialists working in professional men’s football for clubs and national teams establishes 12 safety standards. FIFPRO calls for immediate implementation of evidence-based safeguards to protect footballers.
