With a growing number of stars in Europe's top leagues complaining about having too many games to play, the validity of their complaints is quite questionable!
Netherlands and France stars Virgil van Dijk and Aurelien Tchouameni are two of the most recent examples of a growing number of footballers complaining about having too many matches to play.
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At the heart of their argument is the wellbeing of players, with suggestions that they are now being overworked by the various football organisations responsible for club and international competitions.
Last week, ahead of the Dutch national team's clash with France, the Liverpool defender encouraged players to "start saying something" about the fixture schedule. "In England, we think the schedules are too busy," he said, according to The Athletic. "Players are well paid but this should never be to the detriment of our health. We have to play more and more matches. As players we should start saying something, contribute to a solution."
Asked if he would be willing to give up 10% of his wages as a result of playing fewer matches, Van Dijk added: "No, I don't think that should depend on my salary". He added that he does not get a salary from international competitions like the UEFA Nations League, which began in the 2020/21 season. "The Nations League that comes with it, for example, does not go to my salary. We get bonuses, but that is not a guarantee."
What dilutes Van Dijk's argument is the fact that footballers in Europe's top five leagues, particularly in the Premier League, are among the highest-earning professional athletes across all sports. The three main economic pillars of the men's game in Europe are broadcasting rights, ticket sales, and other commercial deals such as sponsorships. In LALIGA, for example, players earn €2.3 million (R47.5 million) a year on average, according to Marca. In theory, top footballers in elite divisions earn far more than other important professions such as pilots, government officials, and even some heads of state.
It is also worth noting that football is a career that is historically based on passion rather than a means of getting rich. Another caveat to Van Dijk's recent demands is that he is the second-best-paid Liverpool player, with annual wages of £11 440 000 (R262 million), according to Spotrac, which also makes him the fourth-highest-earning defender in the Premier League behind only Raphael Varane, Reece James, and John Stones.
Having already admitted that he would not take a pay cut to play a reduced amount of games, the Reds skipper cannot make a compelling explanation that they – and himself in particular – are being unjustly exploited as clubs, federations, and lawmakers have also taken various measures that benefit player welfare, including the introduction of more substitutes, world-class physios, and technology that helps protect and improve the condition of footballers.
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It is also interesting that some top footballers have complained about a lack of game time at their respective clubs, which could lead one to assume that they would actually welcome more games on the calendar as it gives them more opportunities to play.
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