Footballers’ Workload Under Scrutiny as FIFPRO Warns of Overcrowded Calendar

Football’s crowded match calendar continues to raise concerns about player health and recovery. Global players’ union FIFPRO says some leading footballers faced more than 50 appearances during the 2025/26 season, with certain players potentially exceeding 70 matches once club and international commitments were counted.

At a March 2026 industry discussion, FIFPRO representatives highlighted repeated matches, travel and limited recovery time as risks for players. The organisation has called for minimum safeguards, including a four-week offseason break and sufficient preseason preparation.

The issue concerns workload across competitions rather than a specific newly announced Premier League suspension or rule change. The figures describe examples identified by FIFPRO, not every professional player.

Source: FIFPRO, 26 March 2026.