Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has addressed the possibility of strike action by professional footballers. Rodri was responding to interview questions ahead of the English champions’ Wednesday Champions League tie with Inter Milan. When asked about the potential for a players’ strike, Rodri said, “I think we are close to that. If things continue this way, there will come a time when we have no other option, but let’s see.”
Rodri is the latest player to comment on the growing number of matches top clubs are required to play. The new Champions League format debuts today, which will see City play at least two extra games before the knockout stage. Similarly, they will be participating in a new FIFA Club World Cup format in the summer of 2025. This new format, involving 32 teams, will require them to play three group-stage games before advancing to the knockout stage.
Just last week, Rodri’s City teammate Manuel Akanji voiced similar concerns over the increasing number of fixtures. The Switzerland international implied that at this rate, he might have to retire by the age of 30. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker also expressed his worries on the same issue just hours before Rodri’s comments. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that clubs may consider giving their players breaks during the season to mitigate the effects of fixture congestion.
The European professional footballers’ union, Fifpro, threatened legal action against FIFA back in July, accusing the governing body of “abuse of dominance.” Fifpro claimed that FIFA’s decisions have favored its commercial interests while harming player welfare.
However, despite these concerns, the disparity in the number of games played across different levels of football may make a strike difficult to enforce. While players at top clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool face packed schedules, playing up to 75 games across all competitions, players in smaller teams may not play more than 40 games in a season.
