Manchester City midfielder Rodri has stated players are close to going on strike as fixture congestion becomes an issue the game is unable to ignore.

He made the comment ahead of the UEFA Champions League’s return. With the new format, there are already two additional matches before clubs can reach the knockout stage, with the possibility of playing more depending on how they fare early in the competition. 

On top of the UCL and domestic competitions, Man City are also competing in the revamped Club World Cup next summer. Though it only took two matches to win it last time the Cityzens played in the tournament, the expanded competition will see the winners play seven matches over the span of a month – a format similar to a summer international tournament. 

Many players have spoken out about the increase in matches and the toll it will have on their bodies if they make it to the latters stages of multiple competitions every year. Man City’s Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva have joined their teammate in openly expressing their concerns.

With players barely getting a break from the sport already, an even more rigorous match schedule for club and country only heightens their risk for injury and could force many into retirement earlier than planned. 

Though football is one of the biggest and most watched sports globally, the addition and expansion of tournaments places a heavy burden on the people that make the sport what it is. The fact that players are even considering striking speaks for itself. Football is bigger than ever before, but what is the cost?

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