The 2023/24 football campaign gave fans plenty of talking points, and one of the big ones driven by certain clubs and individual managers was the amount of game time, and fixtures that their squads were expected to play, and how that was impacting on injuries, the quality of football played, the form shown and the entertainment fans should be entitled to.
The push behind this was obvious, an expanding international calendar with the Nations League and more countries at the major competitions was the biggest bone of contention, and we have also seen an expanded European calendar. Not everyone was on board with this, the main clubs bemoaning the fixture list have long taken lucrative tours during pre season (even mid season when it has allowed), they are the main beneficiaries of European riches, and they have the multi million to billion squads to prove it – true fan entertainment has also long not been a thing as the money took over, anyone want to mention VAR?
Following the release of the latest CIES Football Observatory report which shows in general clubs are playing fewer competitive matches than they have done in even more recent seasons, we then saw the announcement that top European leagues along with union Fifpro, would now launch legal action against FIFA for their ‘abuse of dominance’ in the game, in order to protect the welfare of players.
So interested observers will be taking note of what Premier League travel plans have been this pre season. For example, ten (half) have jetted to the United States, with three travelling to the Far East for games that are in television broadcast growth areas, with fans ready to adopt (and spend) as they create new, or grow, fresh revenue streams.
A handful of clubs are holding true to at least one traditional local friendly that benefits a neighbour much further down the pyramid, but in the seeming search for more riches, season ticket holders and regular matchday attendees – the true lifeblood of any club – continue to be marginalised, and the so called Net Zero drives by clubs appears to be going the same way as many clubs’ promises on disabled access which now almost stretches back a full decade.
The topic is certainly set to run and run, and with a straight trip around the globe amounting to 24,898 miles, the fact nine clubs this summer have breached the 10,000 mile barrier, four in excess of 11,000 and three breaking 12,000, before a competitive ball has even been kicked, well it is safe to say many fans out there will not be impressed.