In a fiery outburst, renowned football manager Pep Guardiola has vehemently criticized the governing bodies of football, FIFA and UEFA, attributing the surge in player injuries to their recent decision of increasing the duration of matches.
The introduction of new stoppage time rules has led to significant extensions in game durations. The first week of Premier League fixtures witnessed an average of ten additional minutes being played. Guardiola strongly believes that this change, coupled with the already grueling schedule, has been the primary cause for the alarming rise in severe injuries.
Several high-profile players have fallen victim to these unfortunate circumstances. Real Madrid has lost Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao to ACL injuries, while Christopher Nkunku, Jurrien Timber, and Manchester City’s star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are also sidelined with their respective issues which require extended recovery periods.
Expressing his disappointment, Guardiola expressed his thoughts on De Bruyne’s injury during an interview with Movistar. He stated, “It sucks… He’s a really important player to us, I think he’ll need surgery, we’ll lose him for months. He is a very special player, with a very distinct talent, his connections with [Erling] Haaland, but it is what it is.”
The Manchester City coach didn’t stop there. He directed his frustration towards UEFA and FIFA, holding them responsible for endangering players’ well-being through their relentless fixture lists. Guardiola urged fellow players to stand up and protest against these changes that put their physical health at risk.
