The congested match calendar and dangerous workload of elite-level players was in focus at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, England on Thursday.
Speaking on a panel centred on whether workload has become unsustainable for elite players was Alexander Bielefeld (FIFPRO Director of Global Policy & Strategic Relations for Men’s Football), Alberto Colombo (European Leagues Deputy Secretary), Maria Karlsson De Cecco (CMG CEO and former professional footballer), and Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus’ Head of Football Institutional Relations and former professional footballer).
A FIFPRO report analysing player workload in the 2023/24 season revealed 54 percent of 1,500 players monitored faced excessive or high workload demands, with a significant number exceeding the recommended limits by medical experts.
Those demands will be increased this season with the introduction of a 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, leaving players little time for rest amidst a cannibalised match calendar. Earlier this season, Manchester City midfielder Rodri said players were close to going on strike in protest of the number of games elite-level men’s players are having to endure.
"We have reached a saturation point and for many elite players across the game, when we visit locker rooms in Italy, France, England, it’s the same conversation: workload and the calendar are the priority issues for them," said Bielefeld.
"We need an honest broker who can sit the different parties at a table and mediate. For us as unions, and as leagues, it was a matter of last resort to go to legal action."
Bielefeld also commented on the fact that not all players are affected by excessive workload. "When we talk about workload, what’s important to me is understanding what’s happening with the top five percent of players.
"In every entertainment industry, there will always be those at the top of the pyramid – high earners in high demand – because they drive the audience, the fans, and the viewers. At the same time, others may be in more precarious conditions. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t protect those at the top –because ultimately, we all want to see peak performance.
"When you look at the start of the season, for example, a player like Phil Foden had to rest before the season even began. He was struggling before a ball was even kicked. That’s not good for our competitions."
