Players at risk of burnout, warns FIFPro

Premier League clubs may have to arrange in-season breaks for their international stars to avoid burnout next season, the general secretary of the world players’ union has warned.

Players such as Raheem Sterling could face a situation where the 2019-20 season ends on August 23 with the Champions League final and the 2020-21 campaign begins with a Nations League match for England against Iceland on September 5.

It is a scenario which could be replicated at many clubs and with many players, with the current season heavily delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, the general secretary of FIFPro, says decisions will have to be made on an individual basis to prevent players putting themselves at increased risk of injury.

“We are convinced we will need to find solutions which may have to happen on a clubby-club basis for how players get their rest,” he said. “Of course the challenge is for players who represent their countries because for all the others there are international breaks and the clubs hopefully will apply common sense and give the rest of the squad some time away.

“For the national team players it’s difficult, it may come down to an individualised approach. We need to address that country by country and most of our unions are engaged in those conversations with their respective leagues.”

The Premier League has yet to confirm a start date for the 2020-21 season, but the most likely option would appear to be the weekend of September 12-13, just after that month’s international window.