Premier League Players Union Contemplating Going on Strike
The Professional Footballers Association, AKA the PFA, has had rumblings of a potential strike as more players are sharing sentiments of playing too many games. Rodri has spoken out recently, echoing his peers’ views of overplay after his recent injury against Arsenal. He is not the first to attribute his injury to the extensive calendar the top players face, as coaches and players alike have spoken out previously, including Pep Guardiola. Top teams playing in European competitions on top of the domestic league and an assortment of tournaments can play upwards of 70 games if they make it all the way to the final in all competitions.
Do they really play more now than they did in the past? According to the BBC, clubs are not playing any more games on average today than they did since 2000. The problem arises for the best teams, the upper echelon, as they qualify for more competitions and end up playing more if they are successful, as most competitions have knock-out stages that could end seasons shorter. To make things worse, new competitions are popping up or expanding, like the Club World Cup that will be in the United States in 2025. This may hurt the top teams even more, but should every player stand up for the bigger clubs and risk their own names?
Some of the main concerns of players hoping to play fewer games are the effects on their bodies and mental health, as well as recovery and personal time. The PFA is also reaching out to FIFA as many of these players also play for their national teams across a growing number of competitions and friendlies. The PFA has suggested limiting the schedules of domestic competitions like the Community Shield and Carabao Cup. In return, the players are offering to take pay cuts to make up for the potential losses the clubs may face from less broadcasting and ticket revenue. Many regular people have weighed in, saying these players are already paid giant wages and making a living playing a children’s game, so they shouldn’t complain.
