2023-08-09 00:23:08
As the new Premier League season begins this Friday with a match between defending champions Manchester City and Burnley, Raphaël Varane tweeted bravely to denounce the overloaded schedule in the league and in the League Cup (FACup). The Manchester United defender echoes a meeting with the FA, which took place last week, during which the FA presented its recommendations to the referees concerning, in particular, the playing time of matches.
“A dangerous level for the well-being of the players”
As in the World Cup, the watchword seems to be effective playing time, and therefore the compensation of stoppages in play during matches with more additional time. Bad news for the 2018 world champion: “On the part of managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, that the calendar is overloaded and that it is at a dangerous level for the physical and mental well-being of the players. »
We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for…
— Raphaël Varane (@raphaelvarane) August 7, 2023
Each year, Premier League clubs face each other during the winter break, dedicated to rest in the other championships, during Boxing Day. A historic meeting on the other side of the Channel between Christmas and New Year’s Day which saw the teams play three matches in the space of a week. A busy period, directly followed by FA Cup matches in January and February. In total, last year, Manchester United played 12 games in the space of thirty days.
An overload that Premier League players and coaches had already complained about, without being heard according to Varane: “Despite our previous comments, they (the Federation) have now recommended for next season: longer matches, more intensity and fewer emotions for players to show. I feel like these changes are hurting our game. We want to be at our highest level, the best we can be and put in amazing performances for the fans to celebrate every week. »
The former French international (93 caps) announced in February his international retirement at just 29 years old. He had already complained about the overloaded calendars, in club as in selection. “We play all the time, we never stop, explained the central defender. We have overloaded schedules, we play non-stop. Right now I feel like I’m suffocating and the player is eating the man. »
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