Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate would support player strike to ease workload
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France defender Ibrahima Konate speaking to reporters ahead of the Nations League match against Israel.
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON – France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has become the latest player to speak out against the packed fixture schedule, saying on Oct 8 that he supports his fellow players’ right to strike over the issue.
Players and managers have criticised the ever-expanding football calendar, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri warning in September that footballers were ready to down tools in protest if the situation did not improve.
The Spaniard suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury soon after making those comments and required surgery, further fuelling the debate around the intense football schedule and the well-being of players.
“If this dynamic continues and the players decide to bang their fists on the table, then we’re all in this together,” Konate, 25, told reporters, when asked about whether he supported a strike.
“If tomorrow there’s a movement that will lead to an understanding, I’ll be part of it. And I think all the players will follow suit.”
All three European club competitions – the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League – have been expanded to 36 teams this season and global football players’ union Fifpro said in July that it would file a complaint with European Union antitrust regulators about Fifa’s international match calendar.
England recorded the highest number of domestic back-to-back matches, 87, among top European leagues last season, with Premier League clubs averaging the shortest recovery time between games at 67.3 hours.
“It’s a subject that shouldn’t be neglected,” Konate added.
“You hear some clubs prefer their players to (not report for international duty) but you have to understand that too, there are so many games.
“The players are on the club’s payroll, even if the national teams are just as important.”
France, second in Group A2 in the Nations League, travel to Budapest on Oct 10 to face Israel, who are hosting their home games in Hungary due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“We don’t look at who we’re playing against but of course, we’re not insensitive to what’s going on in the world, what we see on social networks (about the war) is appalling,” Konate said about playing Israel.
“What I’m most worried about are young people. Imagine children who see this on their phones and the impact it can have on them.
“Fighting terrorism is one thing, but civilians being killed en masse, it hurts me.” REUTERS
