# Premier League CEO Richard Masters Voices Concern Over Player Burnout
It isn’t news that players are playing too much football. Liverpool’s internationals played close to 11 months of football last season, with their international fixtures not finishing until mid-June. This was extended because of the Qatar World Cup, but FIFA’s new Club World Cup, as well as UEFA’s reformatted Champions League, will still add to the burden on players’ bodies in the coming years.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has long banged the drum that his players aren’t getting enough rest, and it appears the Premier League’s CEO, Richard Masters, is beginning to take note. Speaking on the Front Office Sports podcast, Masters said: “The demands on that top strata of players is growing and I think basically they are maxed out. We have to protect our players and we have to ensure that the balance between domestic football and international football, or regional football, European football in the case of our clubs, is maintained.”
Masters also revealed that there is a tension between FIFA and domestic leagues due to the organisation’s ability to introduce new fixtures, such as an expanded World Cup and Club World Cup. He said: “Frankly, if two Premier League clubs get to a final and it finishes in July, I’m not sure how they are going to participate in the beginning of the Premier League season.”
The CEO continued: “If the question is ‘Can we sort it out?’, then the answer is ‘no’. Domestic leagues don’t really have a seat at the table, it is a federal system… We have our own lobbying groups. We have the European Leagues, the World Leagues Forum, which I chair. We talk about these issues and we feel that domestic football is the centrepiece of world football.”
Masters’ comments come as a warning to FIFA and other governing bodies that they need to be more mindful of player burnout. If this doesn’t change, players will suffer more and more injuries and, ultimately, FIFA’s ‘product’ may become damaged.
## Player Burnout: A Growing Concern
Player burnout has been a growing concern in recent years as footballers are increasingly asked to play more games in shorter periods of time. This has caused a number of issues for players, including increased risk of injury and fatigue.
The problem has been exacerbated by FIFA’s introduction of new competitions such as the Club World Cup and an expanded World Cup. These tournaments add additional strain on players who are already stretched thin by their club commitments.
This has been a particular issue for Liverpool’s internationals who played close to 11 months of football last season. The situation was further complicated by the Qatar World Cup which extended their season even further.
## Jurgen Klopp’s Warning
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been vocal about his concerns over player burnout in recent years. He believes that his players are not getting enough rest and has urged FIFA and other governing bodies to be more mindful of this issue.
Klopp’s warnings have now been echoed by Premier League CEO Richard Masters who voiced his own concerns over the rising number of games for players. Masters believes that the demands on top-level players are growing and that they are “maxed out”.
Masters also revealed that there is tension between FIFA and domestic leagues due to the organisation’s ability to introduce new fixtures without consulting with them. He believes that domestic leagues do not have enough of a say in these matters and that FIFA needs to ensure that all parties are given a proper seat at the table.
## Protecting Players From Burnout
It is clear that something needs to be done to protect players from burnout. The increasing demands on top-level players is leading to more injuries and fatigue which could ultimately damage FIFA’s product.
The solution lies in better cooperation between FIFA and domestic leagues. FIFA needs to ensure that all parties are given a proper seat at the table when it comes to introducing new fixtures and competitions. This will help ensure that players are not overburdened with too many games in too short a period of time.
It is also important for clubs to take responsibility for their players’ wellbeing. They need to ensure that their players are given adequate rest periods between games and that they are not overworked. This will help reduce the risk of burnout and injury.
## Conclusion
Player burnout is a growing concern in football as players are increasingly asked to play more games in shorter periods of time. This has caused a number of issues for players, including increased risk of