Player Welfare in Crisis: FIFPRO Raises Alarm

Zurich, Switzerland — FIFPRO Europe has sounded an alarm over the growing strain on professional footballers, pointing to an “unsustainable workload” that leaves athletes vulnerable to injury.
The warning comes after a string of injuries to international stars including Ousmane Dembélé, Frenkie de Jong, and John Stones during the latest international match window.
The global players’ union is calling for mandatory workload protections, better scheduling, and stronger coordination between clubs and national federations.
“Players are not machines,” FIFPRO said in a statement. “Without systemic changes, the game itself is at risk.”