Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal says the current football calendar is “harming” players ahead of the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening.
Champions League holders Real Madrid play Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, a month to the day since the European Championship ended in Germany.
Carvajal, who made five appearances during Spain’s Euro 2024-winning campaign, including the 2-1 win over England in the final, said the schedule is having a negative impact on players and their families.
“The calendar doesn’t make any sense, it’s impossible to perform at your best with so much travelling,” said Carvajal.
He added: “The appropriate bodies should analyse this because the games drop in level. We and our families suffer as a result”.
In July, global players union FIFPro began a legal case against FIFA after calling the new Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, a “tipping point” in the demands placed upon its members.
The joint legal action argues the rights of players are being violated under EU laws after FIFA added its new 32-club competition on to the end of the 2024-25 season.
Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde spent the summer on international duty with Uruguay during their Copa America campaign.
He made six appearances during his country’s run to the semi-final and subsequent victory over Canada in the third-place play-off.
“The schedule is very tough, especially for those of us from South America because we have 12-hour flights there and 12-hour flights back,” said Valverde.
“This year we have had much less pre-season and we have less fuel for the year. We are professionals and we take care of ourselves as much as possible, but it’s complicated.”
Reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid begin the new La Liga campaign against Mallorca on Sunday.
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(Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
