The champions league format created a lot of confusion as to how teams get to play the other, but settled when Cristiano Ronaldo and Buffon, alongside former manager of Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri, clear the confusion effortlessly during champions league draw, but what comes after that is fixture congestion which players have been clamouring for since last season, to add another two games and possibly playoffs is only inviting breakdowns for players, it is about number of games these players can play in a season and the needed break for them to take time off the pitch and come afresh without a threat to their mental health, which seems to be the case now and they are not ruling out possible strike if players’ welfare and opinions of players are not considered.
This fixture congestion also extended to World Club Cup, a competition that requires two matches for champions league winners, if they reach final, has been extended to, three group games and four knockout games if they qualify for final. It feels players have been stretched beyond their limits and ready to embark on strike if players are not protected. Man City centre-back, Manuel Akanji has joked about retiring at 30 because of fixtures congestion which leaves no time for players to take care of themselves, from training ground to match day, with cumulative effect of fatigue, long terms injuries and possible lay off. Former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp was very critical of the fixture congestion before his exit of from the Merseyside club.
Due to the fixture congestion clubs have to contend with their players, especially big clubs that play many competitions, rotating players and employing health professionals to manage injuries effectively. Last season it hit rock bottom for Manchester United, almost every game they have different centre-backs pair, which contributed to their inconsistency last season and lack of identified left-back. Man City’s Rodri who played all games leading to Spain’s European Championship triumph has not dismissed the prospect of strike. The Spaniard featured for both club and country in 63 games across 2023-2024 season, after which he became very vocal about his needed rest, for his physical and mental wellbeing.
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Fifpro- union of players in top European leagues and global players has recently threatened legal action as inevitable if this increase in fixtures continue, and have urged Fifa to protect the interest of players at all levels. The report emanating from the players’ union suggested that maximum number of matches 50-60 per has been surpassed in a season according to the player’s age has reached red line. Los Blancos manager, Carlo Ancelotti has hinted on possible holidays for players during the season as they are weighing the enormous impact fixture congestion could have on players. Liverpool goal keeper, Alisson Becker has complained that nobody asked about players opinions in drafting the increase fixture congestion.
Deadlock facing prospect of strike in elite football:
There is a big gap in reaching consensus to embark on strike in elite leagues, as teams don’t play the same number of games depending on the stage in the competition in which they were knocked out, and financial significant of the fixture as relates to elite footballers. For the leagues that involve in champions league, Laliga, League 1, Bundesliga and Italian leagues that have three competitions to play in a season for clubs that qualified for European competitions, while in Premier league, it extends to four for those who qualified for Europe.
While players have different number of games played in a season it will difficult to reach such compromise, as Rodri complain about the needed rest due to fixture congestion, Haaland might not necessarily feel the weight of fixture congestion. His country did not participate in last European championship, he has had the needed rest and afresh for new season, it is self-evident with his current home, Rodri has only made one single appearance for the club this season. The comparative analysis apply to club and players respectively, it will be hard to break this deadlock as conflict of interests will play out.
