Even taking into account the drive to increase revenue, the club & country organizations do not seem all that concerned w the welfare of their most valuable assets, their players .
While the risks of injury and deteriorating performance are widely known, the report also illustrates dangers to career longevity, mental health, and personal lives.
Today’s elite young players like Vinicius Jr have played up to double previous generation.
Football stakeholders have disregarded health safeguards in favour of competition expansion to generate more revenue. eg expanded Club World Cup & Champions League, which could increase number of games by 11% for top players.
FIFPRO seeks mandatory season breaks, limit on back-to-back games to protect players, and the minimisation of international travel.
The clubs & fans are negatively impacted also:
The report also analyses the cost of injuries to clubs, broadcasters, and fans because of the large number of players missing matches in the ‘big five’ leagues this {22/23} season.
Minutes for current U25 vs previous generations:
Vinicius Jr has at age 22 already played 18,876 minutes club and national team football, more than twice as much as former Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho at the same age.
Spain’s Pedri had at the age of 20 played more than 12,000 minutes, 25 percent more minutes than Xavi at the same age.
France’s Kylian Mbappe has at age 24 played 26,952 minutes, 48 percent more minutes than Thierry Henry at the same age.
Jude Bellingham will have played more than 30 percent more minutes of competitive football by his 20th birthday later this month than Wayne Rooney, at the same age.
adding - I hope more players better leverage FIFPRO data/services to organize, speak & act on the player welfare challenges.
Thanks for sharing the summary results graphic!
And congrats to Mia Fishel for her 1st WSL/Chelsea goal!
Nusa - 2 assists for Erling in 2 games!
The back-to-back appearance percentages for the players profiled in the report is pretty alarming so I hope they can figure out a viable solution.
Very mind blowing!
In the report, there is a wow visual of Jude's minutes (club & country) at age 20 v other players at age 20, but here is the data:
I know!!
They are so competitive so to me that adds to the complexity of the issue & possible solutions/options.
Even taking into account the drive to increase revenue, the club & country organizations do not seem all that concerned w the welfare of their most valuable assets, their players .
The FIFPRO report is a very well research report I highly recommend!
2023 FIFPRO Extreme Calendar Congestion: Adverse Effects on Player Health & Wellbeing Report
Key findings/takeaways:
The clubs & fans are negatively impacted also:
Minutes for current U25 vs previous generations:
adding - I hope more players better leverage FIFPRO data/services to organize, speak & act on the player welfare challenges.