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Top footballers Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, both key players for Manchester City, have voiced their growing concerns about the relentless football calendar, criticizing FIFA and UEFA for their lack of consideration for player welfare.
De Bruyne, a pivotal figure in City’s recent success, highlighted the unrealistic schedule and its potential impact on player performance and well-being. He points to the short turnaround between the Club World Cup final and the start of the Premier League season, leaving players with minimal time to recover, recharge, and prepare for another demanding season.
“The problem will come when we finish the Club World Cup. We know there will only be three weeks between the Club World Cup final and the first day of the Premier League,” De Bruyne said. “You have three weeks to take a vacation, and prepare to play another 80 games. We can try to say something, no solution has been found. They don’t care. It’s money that talks.”
De Bruyne’s sentiments are echoed by his teammate, Bernardo Silva, who expressed his exasperation with the “completely crazy” schedule, specifically citing the minimal rest period given between matches.
“We’ve just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game. We’ll probably play every three days for months. It’s been absolutely absurd,” Silva stated.
Both players acknowledge the increasing size of squads, but emphasize that this doesn’t make the schedule any less demanding or the workload any less challenging.
“In the Champions League, if you don’t qualify for the round of 16, you still have to play two more games,” Silva added. “It’s true that the squads are bigger, but I’m not going to say that it’s easy. It hasn’t been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we’re subjected to is absolutely absurd.”
These comments highlight a growing tension between the demands of modern football and the well-being of players. Despite calls for reform and concerns about the potential for injury and burnout, the lucrative nature of the sport continues to drive an ever-expanding calendar. The players’ criticisms serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost behind the pursuit of profit and entertainment, leaving many questioning whether the current model is sustainable.
