Manchester, Sep 17: Manchester City midfielder Rodri has revealed that top soccer players are on the brink of considering a strike due to the overwhelming number of matches they are required to play. Speaking ahead of City’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan, Rodri emphasized the growing concern among players about the increasing frequency of games.
Rodri expressed that the relentlessly packed schedule, including competitions like the Champions League, is pushing players to their limits. He noted that if the trend continues, players might have no option but to refuse to play. “It’s easy to understand. You ask any player, he will say the same. It’s a general opinion of the players,” Rodri stated in the pre-match news conference. “If it keeps this way, it will be a moment when we have no other option. It’s something that worries us because we are the guys who suffer.”
Rodri is set to make his season debut for City against Inter after an extended break following Spain’s European Championship win in July. City faces a demanding season with two more matches in the initial phase of the Champions League and potentially up to seven additional fixtures in the Club World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States at the close of the domestic season.
The FIFA-initiated 32-team Club World Cup, which will occur every four years, is viewed by global players’ union FIFPRO as a pivotal point in the expansion of international tournaments. They have launched a legal challenge against FIFA’s expanded competition formats, including the upcoming 48-team men’s World Cup in 2026, arguing that the increased demands on players were implemented without proper consultation.
Rodri remarked that players can maintain high performance over a season of 40 to 50 games but suggested that playing up to 70 matches, as might happen if City advances deeply in all competitions, is unsustainable.
This development echoes the sentiment of a growing number of players and calls into question the sustainability of the current football calendar.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/09/18/man-citys-rodri-says-top-soccer-players-close-to-going-on-strike/
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