European football is one of the most exacting sports in the world. The level that is expected from players, the pressure to win from the fans, and the busy schedule have made this one of the most demanding if not the most demanding sport in the world. The constant addition of games to players’ schedules has been especially problematic. It is the issue that might spark a European football player strike in the near future.
But is this a rumor, or is there an actual chance of football players striking over fixture congestion? Prior to Manchester City’s Champions League match against Inter, midfielder Rodri was the first one to publicly address the situation.
When the European champion was asked if footballers could strike and refuse to play, he replied by saying, “I think we are close to that. I think if you ask any player he will say the same.”
Other European football players have also expressed support for a general strike
The English game has a very heavy schedule. Top clubs in England like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City could face 68-game seasons if they play all the games available to them in all the competitions. Let’s not forget that these clubs play in the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup.
Manchester City’s case is even more radical because the Manchester club is due to play in the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, which could potentially bring the number of games the club plays to almost 80.
However, this issue is not exclusive to English clubs. In Spain, Real Madrid and European Champion Manager Carlo Ancelotti also expressed his support for a potential strike.
In a press conference, the legendary manager said, “Football has to reflect. The objective is to play less so we can avoid injuries. Players would have no issue with earning less if they play less.”
Ancelotti added, “Players are getting tired. The schedule this season is not going to change, but the players are thinking about changing the future of the game.” This feeling was echoed by French center-back Jules Koundé, a defender for FC Barcelona, in a press conference prior to Barca’s game with Monaco.
“The schedule gets longer every year and we have less time to rest. We have been saying this for three or four years and no one listens to us; they don’t listen to us, the players,” he said.
UEFA have deliberately increased the number of games in their competitions
It is clear that some of the biggest names in world football are unhappy with the way the European schedule is drawn up. This issue is unlikely to change.
Just this season, UEFA debuted their new Champions League format which can potentially add four games for teams that do not qualify in the group of eight, at least in comparison to the prior format.
But why did UEFA make this change? The answer is more likely than not money since TV broadcasting rights are where the money is at in sports. This is why broadcasters such as Amazon, Sky, and CBS spend billions on the rights to stream the top competitions every five years.
The bottom line is that the increase in games is undoubtedly beneficial for broadcasters, but the protagonists are suffering the consequences and very real ones at that.
Last season, former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, blamed TNT and other broadcasters for contributing to the English club’s failure in Europe. For context, the Premier League lost two extra Champions League spots with Germany, and Aston Villa lost the Europa Conference League semi at home, which resulted in no European finals for English clubs in 2023-24.
Klopp pointed out that despite the Premier League being the best league in the world, “players are overworked.” The German manager also said, “I had a discussion the other day with colleagues from my favorite TV channel which I will definitely never watch again, TNT. They always say, ‘They pay you. They give money for football.’ It’s the other way around. Football pays them.”
It remains to be seen whether or not there will indeed be a European football player strike or if things change before taking a turn for the worse.
