Manchester City: Rodri says players 'close' to striking because of fixture increase
Rodri: Players Near Strike Over Schedule Issues
Man City: Rodri thinks a player strike could happen
Rodri, the midfielder for Manchester City, has expressed that players are on the verge of striking in response to the growing number of matches.
On Wednesday, City will compete against Inter Milan in the Champions League. This season features a new format that includes at least two additional matches before the knockout rounds begin.
The Club World Cup, which includes Pep Guardiola's team, has increased its roster to 32 teams and is scheduled to take place next summer.
"I believe we are nearing that point," Rodri said when questioned about the possibility of a player strike.
"If things continue as they are, we might reach a point where we have no choice. But let's wait and see."
With the revamped formats for the Champions League and Club World Cup, City will be set to play a minimum of four additional games compared to the last season's confirmed schedule.
In December, they only had to compete in two matches to claim the Club World Cup. However, next summer, they will have to play three group stage games and four knockout rounds if they hope to win the tournament.
Over the last two complete seasons, City has competed in 120 matches in total across various tournaments.
Rodri's 63 Matches In 343 Days This Season
FIFPro, the organization representing top European leagues and players worldwide, recently stated that taking legal action against FIFA over the expanded match schedule is bound to happen.
Spain midfielder Rodri played in 63 matches for both his club and national team last season, helping secure the Premier League title and the European Championship in just a two-month span.
After the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in April, Rodri mentioned that he "required a break" as the season was coming to a close.
He sat out the first three games of the season for City but made his comeback during their 2-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday, just six days after representing Spain in the UEFA Nations League.
Following an extensive 2023-24 season that kicked off on August 6, 2023, and wrapped up 343 days later on July 14, Rodri expressed that he required a longer break than what was originally planned for him.
Rodri shared, "It was really beneficial for my legs and really good for me. I had a month where I still needed to rest a bit, so I took two months to slow down and get ready."
It’s especially crucial in today’s world. It really benefits me. When pre-season kicks off, I keep an eye on things but make an effort to take a step back. Looking after my mental well-being is essential for me to recharge and keep moving forward.
A recent report by Fifpro on player workload revealed that from July 2023 to July 2024, Rodri participated in 72 matchday rosters for both his club and national team, which also counted pre-season friendly games. Throughout this period, he spent a total of 6,107 minutes playing on the field.
Rodri participated in over 550 minutes of action for Spain during Euro 2024, taking part in all seven matches before being forced to leave the final due to an injury at halftime.
The report indicated that a player's well-being should not be compromised by exceeding a limit of 50 to 60 matches each season, which varies based on a player's age.
Voices Of Players And Managers Unite
Photo credit: Getty Images.
Rodri has played over 50 matches for Manchester City in each of the last two seasons.
Rodri's statements were made just under a day after Liverpool's goalie Alisson expressed his concerns about the alterations to the schedule.
City defender Manuel Akanji recently mentioned that the demanding schedule might lead him to retire at the age of 30, as there aren't enough breaks during the season.
Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, mentioned that the club is thinking about providing their players with breaks during the season to address the growing number of matches.
FIFA has answered concerns about the scheduling by accusing certain leagues of prioritizing their own financial interests and being hypocritical for sending players on long global pre-season tours.
In July, a representative from FIFA stated, "Conversely, FIFA has a responsibility to safeguard the broader interests of global football, which includes ensuring the safety of players at all levels and in every part of the sport."
What Are The Chances Of A Player Strike?
Rodri has indicated that a player's strike might be "near," but the question remains: will it actually happen?
In July, Fifpro announced that it plans to initiate legal proceedings against Fifa, citing its "abuse of power" in the football world.
Fifpro stated: "In recent years, FIFA's choices have consistently prioritized its own tournaments and financial interests, overlooked its duties as a governing organization, and negatively impacted both the economic well-being of national leagues and the welfare of players."
"Taking legal action is now the only sensible course of action for European leagues and players' associations to safeguard football, its environment, and its workforce."
A representative from the PFA has indicated that if players' concerns are ignored, they will start to explore all possible alternatives.
"Recently, our members have been vocal about their opinions regarding the schedule of games and the demands placed on players."
Players are consistently expressing that they have reached their limit, and this should serve as a significant alert to those in charge.
Last week, while discussing the global football schedule, La Liga president Javier Tebas mentioned that the changes in the timetable have only benefited a limited number of top players.
"We typically focus on around 150 to 200 players who participate in every match. However, in Europe, there are over 50,000 players who don't take part in all those games and therefore don't face the issue of match overload," Tebas stated in an interview with BBC Sport.
Football shouldn't be dictated by the situation of just 250 players; it must consider the wider impact on everyone involved. If new tournaments emerge, they could drain the finances of national leagues, which would, in turn, affect the salaries of many other players who don't benefit from the same revenue as the higher-profile clubs.
A recent investigation by the CIES Football Observatory, a research organization linked to the International Centre for Sports Studies, found that the majority of teams are not increasing the number of games they play each season.
The report revealed that from 2012 to 2024, clubs averaged slightly more than 40 matches each season, while approximately 5% of clubs participated in 60 or more games during a season.
Though there aren't many examples of athletes going on strike in professional sports, back in 1961, Jimmy Hill advocated for the abolition of the wage limit imposed on football players. After he threatened to organize a strike, the Football Association eliminated the previous maximum wage of £20 per week.
"Player Disparity Hinders Strike Consensus"
Lead football news journalist Simon Stone:
There have been frequent threats of strike action in the contemporary sports world, but it has seldom come to fruition, especially not in the way that has been predicted.
Just before the 2010 season kicked off, MLS players were on the verge of going on strike due to concerns about their salaries, but the situation was straightened out. In some cases, players at certain Spanish clubs have chosen not to participate in matches because they haven't received their salaries.
The main question is which specific games will be focused on - will it be the Premier League, the EFL Cup, or the Champions League? Each of these tournaments has its own organizers. So, who exactly will be affected?
Even though Rodri, being one of the best in his field, is facing burnout, a player from a Premier League team that doesn't participate in European competitions and is eliminated in the first round of both domestic tournaments typically has a limit of about 40 games in a season.
This difference in viewpoints makes it seem challenging for everyone involved to come to an agreement. Furthermore, it's not entirely obvious what the PFA intends to do, even if their legal efforts pay off.
