Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said football's hectic schedule was not only putting players' health at risk but was also “killing the product”.
Several tournaments are expanding and increasing revenue streams.
But Molango says the game can learn from American football.
He added that Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne going off injured in club football's biggest game was “certainly not what we want”.
City lost De Bruyne to a hamstring injury early in last season's Champions League final, after which they went on to win by one point. 1-0 victory over Inter Milan 61st game of the season.
“The Champions League final should be our Super Bowl,” Molango said at the Financial Times' Business of Football Summit.
“It's not because De Bruyne, one of the best players in the world, was sent off after 30 minutes. [Erling] Haaland was exhausted. Rodri, a top athlete, said he felt cramps after 60 minutes. ”
He added: “For us, we've reached a point where it's not just the health of our players, it's destroying our product.”
Are the number of injured people increasing?
Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola this week expressed his frustration at the lack of rest time given to his players, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his team will be left behind due to the growing injury list. He said it would take a “miracle” to keep the season competitive. .
After 3 months of the current campaign, I am a data analyst and premier injurystated that the number of injured players increased by 15% compared to previous campaigns.
However, Dinary said seasonal comparisons are difficult because recent campaigns have included a winter break, a shortened preseason and a winter World Cup. He said the total number of injuries up to round 26 of the Premier League was 455, while the number of injuries up to round 23 of last season was 434.
| newcastle | 29 | 1,333 |
| Manchester United | 28 | 979 |
| brighton | 28 | 1,093 |
| tottenham | 27 | 949 |
| nottingham forest | 27 | 776 |
| liverpool | 27 | 865 |
| crystal palace | 27 | 932 |
| chelsea | 27 | 1,091 |
| luton | twenty four | 716 |
| Aston Villa | twenty four | 806 |
| sheffield united | twenty three | 1,081 |
| burnley | twenty three | 778 |
| everton | twenty two | 555 |
| brentford | 20 | 1,159 |
| city of manchester | 19 | 565 |
| Fulham | 19 | 616 |
| arsenal | 19 | 771 |
| bournemouth | 16 | 567 |
| Wolf | 13 | 316 |
| west ham | 13 | 331 |
| average | 20 | 814 |
| Source: Premierinjuries.com As of February 28, 2024 – Does not include suspensions, discipline, illness, or fatigue. |
Newcastle, who qualified for the Champions League for the first time since the 2002-03 season, had the highest number of injuries this season, with 29 injured, including Callum Wilson, who was sidelined three times. They also have the highest number of days lost due to injury.
Last season, the Magpies were the only team in Europe's top five leagues to use nine outfield players in 75% of all league games.
However, in European football this season, their number of injuries per 1,000 minutes played (8.6) is actually better than Nottingham Forest (9.5) and Tottenham (10.2), who don't have European football.
Manchester United and Liverpool, whose injury problems have been evident throughout this season, are also high up in the table.
There was discussion at the beginning of this season about whether matches would continue on a regular basis. 100 minutes or more Because of the increase in additional time to eliminate time wastage and its impact on player welfare.
Next season's Champions League and Europa League group stages will each involve 36 clubs, increasing from Round 6 to Round 8 and will run until January, with a two-leg play-off for clubs from 9th to 24th to advance to the last 16. will be held. overall table.
In addition, 12 European clubs will also participate in the 32-team Club World Cup to be held in the United States in June and July 2025.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid have already qualified, with the addition of this season's Champions League winners and a further eight clubs determining the coefficient, but the number of clubs from each league is There is a limit.
What can football learn from the NFL?
The World Cup will expand from 32 teams to 48 teams for the first time in 2026, the European Championship and African Cup of Nations have increased from 16 to 24 teams in recent years, and the Club World Cup will become a 32-team competition from 2026. 2025.
Molango said the NFL's huge media rights deal in the US should serve as an example to football administrators that playing more games is not necessarily the best way to generate wealth.
The NFL, which has only 17 regular season games, agreed to the following: The most lucrative TV rights packages in sports in 2021 – An 11-year deal worth $113bn (£86bn) with the domestic broadcaster.
“I was talking to some of my colleagues at the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), and they said they're making over $100 million (a season) for 17 games,” Molango added.
“There is certainly value in scarcity, and unfortunately at the moment decisions are being made without considering the asset of this game: the players.
“Secondly, they're missing out on some very interesting views on how to improve the quality on the pitch, so it's a lose-lose situation.”
