Footballers could go on strike for England – but still play for their clubs

Professional Footballers’ Association chief says players should target national team competitions

Players could refuse to play for England if they go on strike but continue to play for their clubs, after union chief Maheta Molango said industrial action over football’s punishing fixture list should target “national team competitions”.
Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), all but ruled out his members striking during “domestic” matches after Rodri warned on Tuesday that top players were close to taking such action.
The PFA chief said any strike should instead focus on the likes of the World Cup and new Club World Cup, the expansion of which is already at the centre of a lawsuit filed against Fifa by leagues and player unions.
Asked what form any strike would take, Molango told BBC Radio Five Live: “We’ve been very clear that we want to give priority to our domestic competitions. This is the bread and butter of our players, so I don’t think that the issue is here domestically.
“I think the problem is more in terms of international competition, especially the national team competitions, for example, or this new format of World Cup that happens in the summer.
“So, I don’t think that the focus is forcibly on domestic competitions. The focus is more on international ones and I think we need to define now what this may look like.”
Molango said Rodri’s strike warning, issued on the same day as the start of an expanded Champions League, was “a natural consequence when people feel ignored”.
He added: “We’ve been talking about this topic for a long time now and there have been a number of meetings where the players have been involved and spoken directly to the authorities to let them know how they felt about it. And the situation has not gotten better. It has gotten even worse.”
Telegraph Sport has been told there is no immediate threat of Premier League players going on strike but an increasing number have made it clear behind the scenes that they are ready to take industrial action since the expansion of the Champions League and Club World Cup.
That action could include boycotting promotional activities for certain competitions or their broadcast or commercial partners, with a refusal to play seen very much as the last resort.
It is unclear whether players would be prepared to wait for the outcome of the legal case recently filed against Fifa, which could take years to reach a resolution.
Rodri spoke out amid the prospect of his Manchester City side playing up to 75 games this season as a result of the expansion of the Champions League and the new Club World Cup. With international fixtures on top, it is possible some players could face up to 85 matches this term.
Rodri – who is in contention to win the Ballon d’Or – made 63 appearances for club and country last season, when he followed up a fourth Premier League title success with victory in the European Championship with Spain.
He believes the optimum number of games to play would be between 40 and 50 and that the quality of matches is suffering because players are being overworked to extreme levels. According to the latest research, the average number of matches for a Champions League club last season was 50.8.
Asked if it will get to the point where players strike or refuse to play over complaints about the unrelenting calendar, Rodri echoed concerns raised by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and said: “Yeah, I think we are close to that. It is easy to understand.
“I think it’s something general. I think if you ask any player he will say the same, it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it’s the general opinion of the players.
“And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think. But let’s see. I don’t know what’s going to happen but it’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.
“I can only tell you about my club and my national team but it is something we are worried about. It is not the same for all the players, not all of them play 60 games, but it depends on the team and if you play more or less. But, all of us, we think the same. It’s about time for a break.”
Oliver Brown