Footballers under pressure, on and off the field, due to the frenetic pace

On Wednesday, November 20, three researchers from the University of Leuven (Belgium) completed six months of work and published a study dedicated to the pace imposed on footballers. The report of Lode Godderis and Kelly Mortelmans, specialists in occupational medicine, and Frank Hendrickx, expert in labor law, will be presented. “presented in evidence” to the complaint against the International Football Federation (FIFA) before the European Commission, for violation of competition law regulations and abuse of dominant position.

The authors of this complaint, and in particular Fifpro – the European branch of the global players’ union – believe that the calendars are increasingly full, without taking into account the opinion and health of those mainly affected. “ Professional football does not meet legal requirements regarding health and safety standards », denounces the organization, which partly financed the study. Recently, the ship of soccer stars was increased with a 32-team Club World Cup – the first edition of which will be held between June and July 2025, in the United States – and the new version of the Champions League whose group stage was expanded . six to eight games for each team.

If they participated in all possible matches, both for club and national team, some players could play more than eighty matches a year. Especially since these meetings often require travel, nights away from home, and media obligations. “This study has highlighted that the demands placed on a professional footballer go far beyond what happens on the pitch. Physical exertion during games is just one aspect of a much larger picture that includes mental stress, the impact of travel, recovery challenges and many other factors.the academics explain.

36 injuries every 1,000 hours of play

“Different factors contribute to sleep desynchronization in soccer players, including night games and exposure to bright light. (…)travel-related fatigue, inconsistent match schedules, and individual variability in sleep needs »they add. In the world of football, more and more stars are speaking out to denounce this lifestyle. The Spaniard Rodri was one of the first to make his voice heard about this situation, even raising the possibility of leading a strike if the situation did not change. A few days later, the Manchester City midfielder tore his cruciate ligaments during a match, forcing him to recover his Ballon d’Or on crutches.

“Fundamental worker protections are non-negotiable”remembers Fifpro. Gold, “Football has a higher injury incidence rate than traditional industrial professions: 36 injuries per 1,000 hours of play and 3.7 injuries per 1,000 hours of training”notes the study. In particular, “the increasingly intense nature of the game”, “an increasing number of parties” AND “shorter recovery periods”.

From the first point of their results, the researchers remember that “The International Olympic Committee recommends that football matches be spaced at least 96 hours apart to protect players from injury and ensure sufficient recovery”. Less than two games per week, therefore, a roadmap that is practically never respected during the weeks of the Champions League, where the midweek European games are framed by the weekend championship games. Not to mention “Boxing Day”, this end-of-year period during which meetings take place at a frenetic pace in England.

“A negative impact on mental health”

“The bodies of the players are the rope we pull to increase income. We will play our third game in nine days, it requires a lot, both mentally and physically.” This is what Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk reported at the end of 2023. “Depressive symptoms are more common among soccer players than in the general population.”study abounds. Increased training loads, combined with insufficient recovery, can negatively impact players’ mood and overall mental health. »

And it does not matter, according to Fifpro, if this surcharge affects a small part of the player population, or if its stars receive emoluments sometimes considered disproportionate. “FIFPRO firmly rejects the impression (…) that workers’ remuneration would not allow them to benefit from protections. » In their study, the three researchers highlight that “Different types of monitoring are used, including physical load monitoring and psychological monitoring” within the clubs, but “The effectiveness of these methods in predicting injuries and optimizing training results is still unclear”.

Still, “Occupational health and safety standards, as defined by international frameworks, are fully applicable to the professional football sector”academics point out. So, “Professional footballers are recognized as workers by labor legislation”. A statute that obliges, in theory, businessmen to “ensure that the safety and health of players is taken into account”.