Over the last few months, players have been complaining about the significant number of matches and the little rest they have between them. How well does FIFA implement the new format? Is it worth it?
After Rodri’s ACL injury, fans and players have debated this new format that has shaped football differently these past two years. With more matches and less time to rest, the football world has seen players getting more severe injuries like ACL tears, Achilles Tendon ruptures and hamstring strains.
Last year, the Premier League saw an 11% rise in injuries, taking the total number of players side-lined by injury to 655. Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle were the most affected by this new format, but when is football too much football?
If we compare how much game time Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney had as a youngster and contrast it to Jude Bellingham’s game time, the Real Madrid player has over 3,000 minutes more than Rooney. This new calendar that FIFA has implemented is getting more unsustainable over time, as players don’t have sufficient time to rest and are more prone to long-lasting injuries.
The main issue that concerns team managers is the number of days lost because of injury. Last season, Aston Villa’s player Tyrone Mings' injury was the longest-lasting. He’s been out for over a year due to an ACL tear and is expected to return after the international break at the beginning of October.
With European Competitions changing their format as well, players are expected to play at least two matches per week. That doesn’t include international breaks, which tend to happen every two months. Some experts have even compared the NFL format to the FIFA one and have suggested adapting it to the 17-game regular season, but that is unlikely.
Football is slowly becoming a money sport where players’ health is not valued anymore. How can FIFA change this situation?