Manchester City midfielder and Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne has voiced his concerns over the impact of an increasingly crowded football calendar on player health and performance. De Bruyne’s anxieties stem from the recent expansion of European club competitions, which has added more fixtures to an already demanding schedule. This expansion, coupled with the upcoming Club World Cup, has left players with a limited amount of rest and recovery time.
De Bruyne specifically pointed out the tight turnaround between the Club World Cup final and the start of the Premier League season, leaving players with just three weeks to rest and prepare for another grueling season. He highlighted the disparity between the priorities of governing bodies and those of players, stating that “money speaks louder than the players’ voices.”
De Bruyne’s concerns are shared by the players’ union FIFPRO, which has filed a complaint with EU antitrust regulators regarding FIFA’s international match calendar. FIFPRO’s report revealed that some players have as little as 12% of the year to rest, a consequence of competition organizers prioritizing financial gains over player welfare.
Despite De Bruyne’s concerns, a report by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) claims there is no clear evidence of a rise in elite player workload since the 2000s. However, the report also highlights that reigning Club World Cup champions Manchester City played almost 63% of their matches in league-organized competitions during the 2023-2024 season, with a significant portion of their remaining games coming from UEFA and FIFA-organized fixtures.
The current situation raises serious questions about the long-term consequences of an increasingly packed football calendar on player health, performance, and longevity. It remains to be seen whether governing bodies will address these concerns and prioritize player welfare in the future.
