By Samuel Petrequin
FIFA says several players’ representative groups and the sport’s governing body have reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should have a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season.
It was unclear, though, whether the consensus would lead to a binding agreement since FIFPRO, the sport’s global players’ union, did not take part in the discussions.
FIFA did not immediately say which groups attended the talks on the eve of Sunday’s Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea, mentioning “representatives of several player unions from around the world.”
The tournament was held during the European offseason and has faced criticism from unions, as an increased focus on player welfare has been leading to calls for mandatory rest periods and a greater emphasis on player safety during matches.
Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Last month, France’s union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the competition, saying it is “urgent to stop this massacre” amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads.
Enforcing a 72-hour period strictly could mean big adjustments to some game schedules and TV deals. FIFA didn’t indicate how it would work in practice. European teams playing in the Europa League late Thursday evening routinely play domestic league games on the following Sunday. With a strict 72-hour break, they might have to wait until Monday to play again.
That would be a major headache for the German Bundesliga. It abolished Monday evening games in 2021 after years of protests by fans who wanted easier-to-attend weekend kickoffs. When it introduced the unpopular Monday kickoffs four season earlier, the German league argued it would mean more rest for Europa League teams.
The new Bundesliga TV deal starting next season doesn’t include any Monday games, either.
FIFA added that a rest day per week should also be allowed and that travel demands as well as climate conditions will also factor into future competition planning.
The Club World Cup involving 32 of the world’s top teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament should 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.
AP