Tebas raises the alarm: too many matches, footballers close to breaking point

La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that FIFA and UEFA must intervene, highlighting the risk of injuries from an ever more congested calendar.

In London, at a summit on performance and health organized by the world footballers’ association (FIFPRO), the Spanish executive said intervention by FIFA and UEFA is essential. Among the events adding to the burden, Tebas singled out the expanded Club World Cup and the 48-team World Cup held in North America.

“Some players are holding up more or less, but in the end there will be an inevitable breaking point,” Tebas stressed. “If we do not intervene, the situation will worsen drastically, because it is unsustainable. Instead of reducing the players’ load, we are increasing it. If we do not solve this problem, football will suffer.”

Tebas added that football’s governing bodies must do more than merely consult stakeholders, which always results in “nothing”.

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the association representing footballers in the English leagues, said the refusal of Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice and others to play in the latest international matches raises questions about what is wrong with this system. “To anyone who thinks the problem is only England’s, I say look at Kai Havertz, Brian Brobbey and Kylian Mbappé. Is this really the football we want?” Molango said.