Top football players in the world have more and more full schedules. The competitions they participate in are constantly expanding (European cups, Nations League, Club World Championship), which is why after the end of the current season some of them may have even 70-80 matches in their legs. And this arouses concern in them, and even opposition.
Football stars oppose increasing the number of matches. They even threaten to strike
– The problem is that UEFA and FIFA continue to plan additional matches. We can raise our concerns, but no solution has been found. It seems that money shouts louder than the players' voices – Kevin De Bruyne, star of Manchester City and the Belgian national team, was outraged. And his club mate Rodri even started talking about a possible strike. “I think we're close to it,” he announced.
The Spaniard was supported by Jules Kounde, a player FC Barcelona and the French national team. – We have been saying this for three, four years and no one pays attention to us, the main characters are not listened to. The time will come when we will have to strike, because it will be the only way to make them listen to us – he stated. Now another famous athlete has spoken out on the matter.
Thibaut Courtois speaks out on players' strike, cites NBA
Thibaut Courtois, goalkeeper of Real Madrid, spoke about the excessive workload of top players. How does he feel about the strike? – It's difficult. I don't think it's necessarily about matches. It's about the period between one season and another. Players who went far in the Copa America or the European Championships had three weeks of vacation. It's impossible. In NBA they have a demanding schedule, but you get four months off. That's the difference – he said, quoted by the daily “Marca”.
The Belgian was also asked whether a possible reduction in the number of matches should not be linked to a reduction in players' salaries. “One thing has nothing to do with the other. I believe that the income is sufficient to pay salaries,” he said.
In addition, Courtois recalled his words from three years ago, when he questioned the point of playing the Nations League. Moreover, his situation is different in that he has resigned from playing for the Belgian national team (is said to be in conflict with coach Domenico Tedesco). That's why he missed Euro 2024 in the summer and, unlike many top players, he had a lot of time for himself. – Without playing for the national team, I rested well and I feel good. But those who play at the European Championships or the Copa América don't have time – he concluded.