Rodri DECLARES WAR on UEFA and FIFA over fixture congestion

Tom Weber

Updated: 17 Sept 2024 19:56 BST
4 min read

Rodri argues with a referee during Manchester City v Newcastle in the Premier League, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has joined the growing chorus of players lashing out at fixture congestion.

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The topic of fixture congestion has been put in the spotlight again inn recent times due to the start of the revamped Champions League, which will see players take part in an increased number of games.

This, paired with this summer's Euro 2024 and next summer's expanded Club World Cup, means that some will have to play an unprecedented number of fixtures in a relatively short period of time.

UEFA has marketed the reforms concerning its European competitions as being great for supporters due to the boosted number of high-stakes matches, but players have not taken too kindly to the changes.

Players fight back

Bernardo Silva was one of the first to hit out at fixture congestion a few weeks ago, insisting that "the amount of games we're subjected to is absolutely absurd."

Shortly thereafter, Chelsea omitted star attacker Cole Palmer from their Conference League squad due to 'load management,' which prompted a fiery response from FIFPRO president Davied Terrier, who thundered that "football is getting more crazy every day, whether that is with the calendar, the transfer system or the workload on players."

On Monday, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson criticised FIFA and UEFA: "Sometimes, nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion does not matter. But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that."

Man City star Rodri has now also joined the chorus of stars lamenting fixture congestion, even going so far as to suggest that players are on the verge of going on strike.

"Yes, I think we are close to that [striking]. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that, you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much."

"Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let's say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it. Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest."