UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier have called for urgent action to protect player health, warning that the congested football calendar “has reached a tipping point.”
Their joint statement followed criticism from Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, who said Spain risked 18-year-old Lamine Yamal’s fitness by giving him painkillers to play World Cup qualifiers despite a groin injury.
PSG also accused France’s medical staff of ignoring warnings after Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue returned from international duty injured, while France’s players’ union (UNFP) has blamed the crowded schedule for endangering players.
Ceferin said UEFA’s cooperation with FIFPRO “reflects a shared responsibility to protect player health and strengthen the foundations of the game,” stressing that “as demands on players grow, it’s more important than ever to find balanced solutions.”
Terrier echoed that urgency: “We all recognise that the calendar has reached a tipping point. In Europe, we are fortunate to have the tools and the partners – clubs, leagues and national associations – to build protocols that protect the well-being of players.”
Both leaders urged football’s stakeholders to work together to preserve player welfare while safeguarding the values of the European football pyramid.
