FIFPro demands mandatory breaks to protect players from burnout and injuries

FIFPro Demands Mandatory Breaks to Protect Players from Overload

In a bold move to address the growing concerns over player fatigue and injuries, FIFPro, the global players’ union, is calling for mandatory four-week off-season breaks and two-week in-season breaks. This comes on the heels of a new study that highlights the fragmented football calendar and the alarming disparity in match participation among players. The study reveals that some players are shouldering nearly double the average number of matches, raising serious questions about player welfare.

The Study: A Tale of Two Extremes

FIFPro’s latest study, titled “From High-Usage to Underload: A Tale of Two Industries,” sheds light on the uneven distribution of playing opportunities in women’s football. While some players are overburdened with an intense schedule, others are underutilized, playing far fewer matches than their peers. The union is advocating for a more balanced approach, which includes not only mandatory breaks but also the creation of new competitions and league expansions to provide more opportunities for underused players.

Among the 300-player sample analyzed in the study, the average number of matches per player was 33—less than one game per week. However, some players far exceeded this average. For instance, Mariona Caldentey played an astonishing 64 matches last season for Barcelona and Spain, the highest number recorded in the study.

The Toll of a Grueling Schedule

Top players often make over 60 appearances and log more than 5,000 minutes in a single season. But the demands don’t stop there. These players also face extensive travel commitments, leaving little time for rest and recovery between club and national team duties. FIFPro is urging the implementation of minimum standards for travel, preparation, and recovery to alleviate the strain on players.

Dr. Alex Culvin, FIFPro’s director of policy and strategic relations for women’s football, emphasized the need for a player-centric approach. “There is a two-speed development of women’s football,” she said. “There are players who are squeezed by the calendar and the high cadence of games; this is an issue that is rightly gaining more attention. Yet there are a larger proportion of players who do not have enough competitive matches and are often overlooked.”

She added, “Putting players at the center of any, and all, dialogue on the calendar and the regularity of games is key to finding solutions. It is important that all stakeholders recognize the depth and diversity of the issues and work together to create a more balanced calendar that, whilst continuing to accelerate growth, also creates more competitive opportunities and provides guaranteed rest periods.”

Disparities in Playing Opportunities

The study also highlights stark disparities in playing opportunities. For example, Sophia Smith, a regular for the Portland Thorns and the United States, could potentially play 60 games in the 2027 season—nearly double the matches of an NWSL player limited to domestic competitions. Over a six-season span, Smith could have access to 336 matches, compared to just 195 for a player like Lauren Milliet, who is restricted to league games and cup competitions.

Similarly, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Roma defender Moeka Minami had played more than 4,500 minutes of competitive football in the previous 12 months, while some of her Japan teammates had barely reached 1,000 minutes. Spain’s squad had 17 players who participated in at least 30 games before the Olympics, while Colombia had only five.

Calls for Change

Based on these findings, FIFPro is advocating for:

• Mandatory four-week off-season breaks and two-week in-season breaks.
• Minimum standards for travel, preparation, and recovery.
• Development of new competitions or league expansions to create more opportunities for underutilized players.

These measures aim to bridge the gap between overuse and underuse, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for players.

Coaches Speak Out

Liverpool boss Matt Beard has also voiced his concerns about the women’s international football calendar. Following his team’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Beard criticized the lack of balance between international breaks and tournaments, which he believes contributes to the growing injury crisis.

“You take out a September window, and you add in the June and a July window, so the international players, when was the last time they had a break?” Beard said. “Every single player at preseason were all muscle injuries, and they were all players that had been on that June and July camp because you go from doing nothing to [doing a lot] to nothing to [a lot], it’s just impossible.”

He warned that without better balance, the cycle of injuries—particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures—will persist. “The balance has to be better from an international perspective, I think, for these international players. Otherwise, this is going to just keep happening,” he said.

Beard concluded, “We need to get the domestic and then the FIFA window first before we start adding in other competitions. Otherwise, you’re going to have the same problem. You’re going to just keep getting injury after injury after injury. You’re going to lose top players.”