Whilst the 2023/24 Premier League campaign was dominated by talk of fines and punishments for a few sides that the authorities had believed had clearly breached the Profit and Sustainability Rules, the 2024/25 campaign looked set to be dominated by two things – the long awaited hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 historical charges and the growing dissatisfaction with the burgeoning football calendar.
The Premier League and certain others in European football have made their thoughts and claims well known, whilst FIFA have already made their responses pretty clear when turning the issue to decisions taken by clubs themselves to fly around the world for ‘commercial self interest’. Fans naturally have their own opinions, and a recent CIES Observatory study showed on the whole competitive club action is generally on the decline when compared to former years – but that does not include current season changes.
Many will feel that the real truth here lies roughly in the middle between both parties in fairness, but this week has seen a change in pressure on the topic. Fans of all colours are used to managers’ speaking out, whilst often failing to truly rotate their very expensively assembled squads, but we now have players speaking out.
City midfielder Rodri has become the latest to suggest that players themselves have discussed how close they are to going on strike to protest the increase in games, and naturally we hear about Champions League changes, the Club World Cup and those expansions.
It is a valid point, for the odd side tasting uber success it would mean almost ten additional games when viewed in isolation and no other mitigation applied. But the Premier League has been shrunk, clubs in Europe join domestic cup competitions late on, they often play weakened teams to focus on where the money is (Europe) devaluing the cup competitions in the process (whilst generally still continuing to win them) and we have a Winter Break where some sides organise friendlies.
So there will also certainly be those fans with little sympathy given the ridiculous riches available in the game, and it seems to be only the most successful on that front who have an issue with it.
Rodri follows on from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and team mate Manual Akanji who commented he may have to retire at 30 owing to the lack of breaks during the season.
I doubt I am alone in thinking maybe the players in question should look closer to home and the decisions taken by their manager and clubs, as opposed to expecting even more preferential treatment to help them on their way to greater success and financial reward.
And I say that as no fan of FIFA or their self invested expansion that has nothing to do with the well being of the domestic game.