The FIFPRO World Soccer Union demanded that a total of twelve guarantees be established to preserve the health of the players. What are they?
The World Footballers Union FIFPro asked that twelve guarantees be established for the health Of the players, especially an eight -week break between two seasons, relying on a broad medical report that points to the players' work overload.
“FIFPRO asks for the immediate application of safeguards based on tests to protect the players,” he says in a statement, on the eve of the start of the New Club World Cup (June 14 – July 13) in the United States, which adds more games to an already overwhelmed calendar.
The study, conducted by 70 specialists who have worked both club and selections, “has established twelve safeguards based on consensus,” says the union.
The former ask for a four -week vacation break between two seasons, of which two of them have to be “completely free of commitment”, that is, without commercial or communication work among others.
At these four weeks, they should follow them “minimum rehabilitation periods of 4 weeks before the players return to the competition.”
In total, eight weeks of rest between season and season.
Between the end of the Club World Cup and the beginning of the European championships in August, those eight weeks would not be completed. In Spain, England or France, the return to the courts is scheduled on the weekend of August 16 and 17, that is, five weeks after the final of the tournament.
In addition, the union also proposes to establish other guarantees such as a mandatory one week in the middle of the season, which are taken into account the numerous displacements in fatigue, which is imposed a minimum day of weekly rest or specific guarantees on the workload for players under 18 years.
“This study presents safety standards based on weighted and independent opinions of medical experts and performance, who work in professional football and that understand the mental and physical tension to which the players are subjected,” says Fifpro's medical director, Professor Vincent Gouttebarge.
Limitation of parties
“If we can all agree that health is first, then we should take measures to apply these safeguards,” he adds.
FIFPRO points out that “although there are some safeguards in national collective agreements, international football lacks standardized frameworks or regulations.”
“Like construction workers require protection equipment and airline pilots have mandatory rest periods, professional players require global standards that establish protections based on physical demands and the risks of injury inherent in their profession,” compares the union.
These guarantees would have “more than 75% in agreement required among the participants” of the study.
Beyond the twelve proposed points, “a substantial majority of experts (60-74%) supports the existence of additional protections” such as the limitation of parties per season and “the controls of the congestion of the calendar,” adds the union.
