September 6th 2024.
Kevin De Bruyne, one of the world's top football players, recently expressed his concerns about the upcoming season. In an interview, he shared his thoughts on how the increasing number of matches and competitions can create problems for players.
De Bruyne, who plays for Manchester City and the Belgium national team, pointed out that the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League have all been expanded this season. However, he believes that it is the revamped Club World Cup in 2025 that will cause the most issues.
The tournament, which will now include 32 teams and be held in America from 15 June-13 July, has raised concerns among players. De Bruyne predicts that it will be a "real problem" for them, especially with the short break between the Club World Cup final and the start of the Premier League season.
He also mentioned the efforts made by player associations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association in England, to find solutions to this issue. However, De Bruyne feels that their voices are not being heard by FIFA and UEFA, who continue to add more matches to the already packed schedule.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who recently joined the Belgium squad for international duty, is not the only one worried about this matter. The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has also announced that they are taking legal action against FIFA over fixture congestion.
In a statement, FIFPRO Europe member unions expressed their concern over FIFA's decisions to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and schedule the 2025 Club World Cup. They believe that these decisions not only violate the rights of players and their unions but also potentially go against EU competition law.
As the 2025 Club World Cup approaches, it remains to be seen how FIFA and UEFA will address the concerns raised by players and their unions. But for now, De Bruyne and other top footballers will have to prepare for what could be a challenging and exhausting season ahead.
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