FIFA considers mandating a 72h interval between matches to protect players

FIFA are pledging to abolish rapid turnarounds between matches that severely threaten player welfare by proposing a mandatory 72-hour break.

The move would wreak havoc with the schedule for clubs who feature in the Europa or Conference League but comes amid widespread concern over workloads across a season.

Under the plans, Crystal Palace's hectic pre-Christmas run of three matches in six days – that has provoked rancour with Carabao Cup quarter-final opponents Arsenal – would be a thing of the past.

Ideas on how to aid players, including the three-day rest period, are pencilled for further consideration and FIFA cannot take unilateral decisions without agreement from other relevant parties.

No changes would come into effect until the new International Match Calendar, which is due in 2031. Discussions around alterations to the calendar are currently ongoing. The 72-hour break has been a recommendation for decades without ever being enforceable.

Despite grievances over the process of the debate and negotiation around law changes, the specifics of mandated rest will be viewed as a positive step for Premier League sides, who have long advocated for an easing of the schedule.

Since the 2022-23 season, Manchester United have played 46 matches without the luxury of three days' rest – mostly between European nights and a Premier League fixture.

Chelsea had a run at the end of last year that saw four out of five weeks taken up by this issue, the worst a 62-hour turnaround from a Thursday against Djurgardens until a midday kick-off away at Newcastle United on the following Sunday.

It's an issue that has become more prevalent in recent years, while Manchester City were handed a 46-hour gap over Christmas in the 2019-20 season, writing a complaint to league officials. Jurgen Klopp called that festive scheduling a 'crime' and there has been noticeably improvement since.

Ex-Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti slammed the lack of rest afforded to players last season, in comments that would have raised eyebrows among his Premier League counterparts.

Spanish teams are regularly cited as being given more rest by La Liga before Champions League matches but Real are statistically one of the worst affected.

Meanwhile, FIFA are organising a $20million fund to provide support to players who have struggled to claim full salaries from clubs in financial trouble.