Every part of the football season is a pivotal one, but the quality of the play in the world’s top leagues is hindered due to the continuous tide of injured players that the regularly scheduled international breaks continue to produce.
As a football fan you have probably noticed an impediment in your club’s league campaign. To some, international breaks are a much needed respite from poor form – a chance to break a string of negative results. But to just about every other club they are a pain, a twang in the pursuit of consistency and a period that always sends a handful of players back to their domestic employers with lasting injuries.
The regular season is already riddled with fixtures that include commitments in the league, national cups and, for the bigger teams, European fixtures. Meaning that in a lot of situations, players are already competing in well over 50 games between August and May.
“A club holding the registration of a player called up to play in the national team must release him to the national association on the fixed/set dates for international matches in each calendar year… These matches take priority over matches in a national championship”. – FIFA Laws and Regulations
Despite that workload, every couple of weeks all competitions are frozen while players are shipped-out to compete for their ‘selected’ country of birth – as a rule, cramming in two fixtures over what was a single weekend break. Not only do the official FIFA regulations on this matter fail to recognise the physical wear on the players, but they encourage national sides to exploit the time they have their players.
“We strongly recommend that all national associations endeavour to arrange international matches on either a Wednesday or Saturday. When possible, we also recommend that national associations try to arrange two international matches in the same calendar week, using the “Wednesday & Saturday” system.” – FIFA Laws and Regulations
It is because of this additional workload that players often come down with ‘ghost’ injuries in the lead up to international breaks – a petty ploy by managers to keep key names fit and out of the injury roulette that has become synonymous with international breaks.
There is no secret behind the kind of money international footballers are on – wages that are paid for by the clubs – wages that they continue to pay while players are injured. That means that when the hoards return from their international tours, with a pair of crutches firmly pressed under each arm, it is the clubs that pick up the bill.
When it comes down to it, do people really care all that much about the fixtures that take place during the international break? Does the football watching populous have an interest outside of the major tournaments (World Cup, Euros, Asian Cup)? To most, it is exactly what it sounds like – a break from football.
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Before the most recent international break, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger went on the record stating “my plan is to pray now that everyone comes back from international games without any injury.
Managerial juggernaut, Sir Alex Ferguson, historically took issue with the concept of international friendlies. The Scottsman once said in a press conference:
“I have no issues at all about the competitive part. The players should always be available for the European Championship and the World Cup… But you can’t tell me that should apply itself in friendly games.
“It doesn’t matter what way you look at it. Club managers are always in disagreement with international football, particularly in friendly situations.”
In the same press conference, Ferguson raised the interesting notion that not only are clubs hindered by the international schedule, but that the national teams themselves are handicapped by the effect of players ducking these duties.
Injuries from the latest International Break (10-11 Oct 2015):
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea): Hamstring Strain – 3 weeks
David Luiz (PSG): Knee Injury – 4 weeks
David Silva (Man City): Sprained Ankle – 3 weeks
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): Thigh Strain – 3 weeks
Kevin Trapp (PSG): Hamstring Strain – 2 weeks
Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich): Thigh Injury – 11 weeks
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea): Hamstring Strain – 2 weeks
Paul Pogba (Juventus): Ankle Injury – 1 week
Sergio Aguero (Man City): Pulled Hamstring – 6 weeks
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool): Groin Strain – 1 week
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd): Ankle Injury – 1 week
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Man Utd): Thigh Strain – 1 week
Kostas Manolas (Roma): Bruised Rib – 3 weeks
Tim Krul (Newcastle Utd): Anterior Cruciate Ligament- July 2016
Alexander Kolarov (Man City): Hip/Thigh – unclear
Alvaro Morata (Juventus): Bruised Leg – 1 week
Mario Mandzukic (Atletico): Thigh Injury – 3 weeks
Shay Given (Stoke City): Knee Injury – unclear
At face value this conflict of interests between club and international football is nothing more than a scheduling error and/or a lack of consideration on FIFA’s behalf. The die-hard fans of professional football clubs continue to call for the resolving of the calendar and the segregation of international football from the period of professional competition. However, FIFA’s superiority complex has shone through with their rescheduling of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and seemingly paved the way for a continued international presence through the professional season.
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