International football organizations, national leagues, and clubs each have their own interests, while players find themselves caught in the middle, overwhelmed by an ever-increasing number of matches. Although the players are well-compensated, they are also facing physical strain, and there are growing discussions within football circles about a potential general strike — although organizing such an effort would be extremely challenging.##EDITORS_CHOICE##At some point, the endless expansion of the football calendar must come to a halt. But how? This is a complex issue, as the desire for more broadcasts drives the expansion and, consequently, more revenue, with no one willing to sacrifice their share of the financial pie. Yet, former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué believes that adjustments should be made at the expense of national leagues.“We need to reduce the number of matches. We should invite all leagues to agree that instead of 20 teams, competitions should be held with only 16,” Piqué stated during “Leaders Week” in London, adding:“Currently, there are too many games, and we see players increasingly saying, ‘We are injured.’ They play every three days, and during the summer, there is no time to rest.”Former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique speaking about his nascent sporting venture The King’s League. #LeadersWeek pic.twitter.com/akaYhsEpOg— Christian Radnedge (@ChristianRad) October 16, 2024 As for national teams, Piqué also has suggestions for change at that level.“I would ask UEFA: why did you create the Nations League, such a difficult competition for fans to follow? I would ask the same of FIFA, which is doing the same thing now with the Club World Cup.”But what about the argument that these matches bring players multimillion-dollar contracts?“I understand that everyone wants to maximize their income, but for the good of football, it would be much better to have fewer matches, with more premium content and exclusive experiences. It would be easier to entertain the audience, and players would have a lighter schedule,” Piqué explained.##NAJAVA_MECA_8421526##
