Football’s crucial next steps after Rodri strike threat makes feelings clear to FIFA

Top-level players are growing increasingly irritated by fixture congestion with Manchester City midfielder Rodri admitting stars are close to striking over packed calendar

Rodri has insisted top players could go on strike after reaching breaking point over fixture congestion.

The Manchester City midfielder’s strong comments followed Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker complaining that players are not consulted over changes to the calendar.

And while the addition of two to four more Champions League games this season has lit the match for their complaints, for City and Chelsea stars the bigger headache is this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

A critical moment appears to have been reached but there remains a host of uncertainties as players, clubs and governing bodies find themselves on a collision course.

Why are players talking about strike now?

Alisson and Rodri’s comments have come during matchday one of the Champions League’s expanded league phase, replacing the six-game group stage with an eight-fixture round robin that will only see 12 of 36 clubs eliminated.

But they are not the first and will certainly not be the last to point out the calendar has become unsustainable.

Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane retired from international duty citing concerns over workload more than a year ago, before later saying he had suffered from repeat concussions, while Rodri’s clubmates Manuel Akanji and Kevin De Bruyne are among those to have previously spoken out.

The latter said that FIFA only cares about money, a dig at the Club World Cup expansion to be held in the US this summer.

City could play seven games were they to win that tournament – at the end of a domestic and European campaign expected to stretch beyond 60 fixtures. And that is before including international commitments. Plus, as Akanji pointed out, the Community Shield is scheduled to take place three weeks later. When is the off-season?

FIFPRO, the players’ union, have cited an increase in injuries to key players and on Tuesday the PFA said: “Players and their unions have asked to be listened to and to be a central part of these processes. When they are ignored then the natural consequence is that players will begin to consider all options available to them.

What happens now?

Players will continue to grumble but the reality is they will need to come together in numbers and make a collective decision to walk out. That takes a lot of organisation and willpower. Who takes the lead? Will it be players from one country or stretch across Europe?

During the pandemic captains of Premier League sides came together in impressive fashion – but this would be on a whole other level.

What would happen if they followed through?

Top level football would grind to a halt. Players would go unpaid but the clubs could find themselves in a drastic situation where the pressure will be on them to act. Fans would be entitled to compensation on season tickets. Broadcasters would be looking to get millions repaid if games they are meant to show go unplayed. Sponsors are likely to have clauses included too.

And yet the problem is more so down to FIFA, UEFA and domestic governing bodies. They are the ones in charge of the calendar and they are the ones who must make concessions rather than piling on the fixtures to maximise revenues.

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