Eighteen percent.
FIFA, the major governing body for soccer around the world, has had an 18% increase in revenue between 2015 and 2022.
However, this increase in revenue comes at the cost of athletes’ health and careers. FIFA has chosen to prioritize profit over the players.
Sports and business have blended together, driven by commercial interests to maximize profits. Soccer has seen an expansion in season lengths and schedules, and it could be the biggest mistake in the history of the sport. While revenue generation is necessary for the sustainability of professional sports, the federation’s overpowering influence in scheduling matches has led to consequences for both the sport and the athletes — especially young players.
Players compete internationally and in a variety of leagues throughout the year, rarely taking time off for rest and recovery. The average soccer player gets four-to-six weeks off throughout the year, sometimes split up to a week between different tournaments. The rigorous schedule has excessive physical demand, especially for young athletes whose bodies are still developing. This can lead them to be more susceptible to injury.
The prioritization of profit over well-being has caused recovery to be ignored. Allegedly, clubs will rush players back from injuries due to the pressure from sponsors and tournament organizers. Because young athletes are eager to make a name for themselves and progress in their careers, they typically return to the field before they are completely healed. This increases the risk of more serious injuries such as knee ligament injuries, ACL and Meniscus tears, shoulder dislocations and spinal injuries.
The increased number of matches also takes a toll on the athlete’s mental well-being. There is an immense amount of pressure on young soccer players to perform well, win trophies and live up to the expectations of supporters and sponsors. As a result, many experience burnout, anxiety and fatigue. Soccer’s commercialization has resulted in young players being viewed as products instead of real people, causing their mental and emotional struggles to be even worse.
Dele Alli, a player in the Premier League, was regarded as one of the best young players in the sport and a rising star. His greatness eventually led him to step away from soccer as the pressure to perform became too much. The exhaustion built up to a climax where it affected his gameplay, and fans could see the difference. He lost sponsors, supporters and his starting position. After these experiences, Alli struggled with addiction and decided to check himself into a treatment facility to improve his mental state. While he was released and is doing better, people must recognize the effects players’ treatment has on the people and their careers.
The general drop in soccer quality is another consequence of business-driven sports schedules. Playing in too many games affects an athlete’s performance. Instead of focusing on refining their abilities and strategies, young athletes are made to play in environments that will threaten their future.
Several famous athletes have had their careers cut short by injuries that altered their physical fitness forever: Philippe Countinho’s hamstring, Marcos Reus’ recurring ankle injuries and Alexandro Pato’s knee ligaments. Due to their ongoing ailments, teams are signing these players away, as their contracts are expensive and the athlete is not playing.
Because of their current overwork, soccer players will soon have considerably shorter careers. Before turning 20, English prodigy Jude Bellingham played 14,445 minutes, compared to legend David Beckham’s 829 minutes. Athletes are playing 18 times the minutes as players did 25 years ago, increasing the risks that could end their careers.
There needs to be an organized effort to keep business and sports apart to safeguard both the future of soccer and the players’ health. It’s time to put players over profit to protect the integrity of the sport of soccer
