The likes of Alan Shearer,Clarence Seedorf and Daniel Sturridge insist that football is close to a ‘breaking point’ in terms of player welfare with the current schedule also affecting quality.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) announced in June that with the support of players’ union FIFPRO,they have joined a legal action against FIFA over the ‘overloaded and unworkable’ football calendar.
Speaking at a Prime Video event in London launching their coverage of the new Champions League format,which will see teams play two more group stage matches,former England striker Shearer said: ‘There’s no doubt that there’s too many games for the top international players to keep on going and going,’
‘It’s so important to keep the quality of football high. When you look at the Euros,the best team won but when you look at the likes of France,Portugal and even England,there wasn’t a great amount of quality,’ Shearer added.
‘There has to be a reason for that. Is it because players are going into a tournament knackered because there’s too many games? There are too many games. I’ve always said that. There has to come a point where it is breaking point and perhaps it’s getting to that now. It’s important that you keep the quality of football because that’s what we all want and love and hopefully we’ll see that in the Champions League,’
Four-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf insisted a mid-season holiday is not enough to combat the accumulated fatigue
‘I don’t think strikes would work with the general public,’ he said. ‘It’s a very difficult conversation saying that players play too much football. Because people will turn around and say ‘Well I get up at six and I don’t get in until seven,I spend 12-hour shifts in a factory,’
While former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge insisted that the key is to ensure that the passion for football remains with the players.
‘I just hope that the amount they’re playing and the stress they’re under doesn’t change their love for it,’ said Sturridge. ‘For players,it’s important for to understand the situation psychologically because I don’t think it will change dramatically in terms of games. From the players perspective,it’s always difficult after a tournament summer. You have to keep the players healthy and give them time to relax and clear your mind. Look at Jean Philippe Mateta going from the Olympics to starting on the weekend and coming off at half-time. Then you’ve got Phil Foden who had to come off the bench yesterday.’
Prime Video will provide exclusive coverage of the top-pick of Tuesday UEFA Champions League match beginning on Tuesday 20th August with the play-off round and run through the whole tournament,up to and including the semi-finals in May 2025.
The coverage will be presented by Gabby Logan and analysis will be provided by some of the game’s most exciting and knowledgeable pundits including four-time winner of the competition Clarence Seedorf,ex-Liverpool,Chelsea and Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge,experienced UEFA Champions League players Josie Henning,Frank Lampard,Gael Clichy,Laura Georges and more. Jon Champion and Alan Shearer will provide live commentary of every top Tuesday match with Gabriel Clarke and Alex Aljoe reporting from inside the stadium.
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