The SFS24 hosted the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) on the second day of the Summit. Speaking on stage were the association’s president, Umberto Calcagno, Fabio Giuseppe Poli, AIC’s Organizational Director, and collaborator Marco Piccinini.

“We conducted a study on Serie A, the Premier League, and La Liga, focusing on the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons, set between the World Cup and continental competitions. We found that the progressive increase in matches has a significant clinical impact on players and has markedly raised the cost of injuries, devaluing players,” Poli began, emphasizing a growing structural issue for the entire football industry.

On this topic, the AIC recently published a detailed report highlighting key aspects that help better understand the dynamics of the phenomenon. Some of the data include:

1) Injury incidence among players. In all three leagues analyzed (Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga), the total number of injury days per player always exceeds 10% of the available days: in the Premier League, there is one injury day for every 6.6 available days, while in Spain and Italy, the figure is one for every 9.

2) Determining factors. The rise in injuries is directly proportional to the number of matches played, with a direct impact on performance. How so? A player in a club that plays approximately 55 matches per season is injured on average for 71 days (20% of the time), making them unavailable one day out of five. If the number of matches exceeds 55, the injury risk can rise to 30%, potentially making players unavailable one day out of three.

3) Effects of a packed schedule. The introduction of new formats and competitions worsens the situation. Tournaments like the Club World Cup will push players to participate in about 80 matches per season, exposing them to a potential injury risk of up to 150 days (100%). This figure, of course, has clear repercussions in terms of sporting performance and the entertainment value offered by broadcasters to fans.

The analysis also examined the top 25 highest-paid players for each club, focusing on those who play around 90% of the available minutes. It provided a detailed overview of the impacts of injuries on the most influential players, including Théo Hernandez, Julian Alvarez, and Federico Valverde.

The findings from the report paint a concerning picture: increasing pressure on players, with ever-tighter schedules and closely packed competitions, risks compromising not only their health but also the quality of the sporting spectacle. While football evolves to meet the economic and commercial demands of a global market, the need for structural reforms that prioritize the physical and mental sustainability of athletes is evident. Without decisive action, there is a risk that the world’s most beloved game will lose its appeal, crushed by the weight of unsustainable expectations—and football cannot afford to become its own worst enemy.

This urgent situation must be addressed promptly, as Calcagno also stressed from the SFS stage: “Protecting players enhances the competitiveness of the leagues. The message we want to send is constructive. The rise in injuries outpaces the increase in the number of matches. If the health of players remains merely a labor issue, we are doing something wrong. Ensuring the integrity of football’s most important asset enhances the spectacle, and we cannot just stand by and watch“.