By Andrew Warshaw
May 17 – Top-flight footballers must be allowed to rest for at least three days between matches to have a better chance of winning key fixtures according to the international players’ union, FIFPro.
FIFPro have backed a study conducted by Dutch coach Raymond Verheijen (pictured below) which suggests that only having two days to recover from matches significantly affected teams’ chances of victory.
The study covered 27,000 professional games across seven countries and over ten seasons.
FIFPro’s technical director Thys Tummers said the credibility of the much-maligned Europa League could be enhanced if three-day rest periods were mandatory, with clubs no longer being forced to field second-string sides.
“Clubs in the Europa League that want to gain a place in the highly lucrative Champions League increasingly favour the [domestic] competition in which they can gain qualification for the Champions League and rest their best players for the Europa League fixtures,” he said.
“This has been the consistent policy of Tottenham Hotspur throughout this season.
“The team was eliminated in the group stage.
“Twente Enschede, even though they had a lead of 1-0, fielded a weakened team for their return match at Schalke 04 and were eliminated.
“This undesirable effect could be avoided in the future by giving players and teams three days’ rest between two matches.”
Tummers said there were other reasons for following the recommendations.
“First, there is the question of fair play,” he said.
“By allowing one club only two rest days, you give the teams an unequal chance of a good result.
“In addition, we must take care that our players are not overused.
“First, because of the health of the players, but second, because the public want to see the players perform at their best.
“That doesn’t happen after just two rest days.
“It is plausible that the number of injuries is higher after only two rest days; a follow-up study is currently being held into this.”
Portugal is the only European nation where players are guaranteed three days’ rest, with teams involved in the Europa League allowed to play their subsequent league match on the following Monday.
Verheijen, who has worked in the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea and Wales, particularly analysed results of English Premier League teams during the group stage of the Champions League.
“The eight worst results all came after two-day gaps,” he revealed.
“Manchester City’s away defeats to both Bayern Munich and Napoli, Manchester United’s home draws against Basel and Benfica, Chelsea’s away draw with Genk and defeat to Leverkusen and Arsenal’s draws with Dortmund and Marseille.
“I don’t see that the games’ authorities can continue to ask teams to play twice in three days.
“It is simply not fair play.”
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