Manchester City midfielder Rodri says professional players are “close” to going on strike due to the increasing number of matches in the football calendar.
The 28-year-old, who missed the first two Premier League games of the season through injury, faces the prospect of an 11-month long campaign if City reach the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, which is scheduled for July 13 next year.
Global players’ union FIFPro recently teamed up with several players’ unions in Europe — including the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) — to launch two legal challenges against FIFA’s decision to stage the competition next summer.
City face Inter Milan on Wednesday in their opening match of the newly expanded 36-team Champions League.
Asked if there was a possibility of players going on strike over the soaring number of matches, Rodri said: “Yes, I think we are close to that. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us.”
A recent FIFPro report on player welfare concluded that the 2024-25 season is set to be the “worst” in terms of workload.
Rodri played 4,327 minutes across 50 games for his club last season and is line to play 77 games if Spain and City go all the way in their respective competitions.
“Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level,” Rodri said. “After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.
“Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.
“Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest.”
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In response to Rodri’s comments, a PFA spokesperson said that when players and their unions are ignored, they “will begin to consider all options available to them”.
“Players are repeatedly saying that enough is enough, and this must now act as a serious wake up call to the authorities,” they added.
The PFA has developed a strong alliance with the Premier League, making a strike in that competition unlikely.
Rodri is the latest player to speak out on the issue of player welfare in the modern game.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson criticised the expanded Champions League format and claimed players had not been consulted on adding two extra games to the league phase.
“Nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion does not matter,” he said during a press conference on Monday. “But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that.”
FIFA, meanwhile, deny the suggestion that they are to blame for the congested calendar, adding FIFPro were consulted about changes to the overall 2025-30 international match calendar, including the 2025 Club World Cup.
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Haaland and Salah form shows benefit of ‘proper rest’ – FIFPro
(Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
