The Professional Footballers’ Union, FIFPRO, has officially expressed its deep concern to FIFA regarding the escalating issue of fixture congestion and its impact on players’ welfare.
FIFPRO’s message highlights the increasing number of matches throughout domestic leagues, international competitions, and pre-season tours, which have pushed footballers to their physical and mental limits. The union warns that this relentless scheduling has led to a higher risk of injuries, burnout, and declining performance levels among top professionals.
FIFPRO is calling on FIFA to urgently review the global football calendar and to implement measures that prioritize player recovery and well-being over commercial interests. The union emphasized that despite repeated warnings, the match calendar continues to expand with new tournaments and extended competitions, leaving players with little rest between seasons.
In its statement to FIFA regarding fixture congestion, FIFPRO urged FIFA and other governing organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue with players and their representatives to create a more sustainable schedule.
“Footballers are treated as inexhaustible resources, not as people. Those who play too much risk their physical and mental integrity. Throughout this year, there has been talk of reforming the calendars to protect the health and rest of footballers. A more human, more rational football was promised. But nothing has been put into practice. The Club World Cup is designed to maximize income regardless of the suffering of the footballers or the spectators. There is no planning, no prevention, no respect. There is only an obsession with economic gain. FIFA continues to act with arrogance, without listening, without dialoguing, without consulting. Instead of opening spaces for participation to all sectors that make up the football industry, it chooses to discriminate and exclude.”
The recent debate surrounding fixture congestion has gained traction, with several top managers and players expressing frustrations about excessive workloads. FIFPRO’s latest action represents a collective effort from players demanding that the governing bodies of football take concrete steps to protect the individuals at the heart of the game.