Farioli: “I believe FIFA will cap players' minutes per season” | OneFootball

In the preview of the match against Estrela da Amadora, FC Porto coach Francesco Farioli said he believes FIFA may eventually impose a limit on the number of minutes each footballer can play per season:

Overloaded global football calendar

«We have managed our squad very well. The proof is that, in the last two matches, even with 10 men, the players responded brilliantly. We cannot forget that this team came from a Club World Cup. The holidays and pre-season preparation were shorter, so we have to praise the work of all departments and the players. When, in 49 matches, you outperform the opponent in every single one by an average of almost five kilometres, that says a lot about what this team is capable of. It is one of the reasons that makes me believe we are on the right path to represent the Dragon spirit.»

«The decisions I have made throughout the season show that I care deeply about the players’ health. With calendars like the current ones, it is not just about the fatigue caused by matches; there is also the physical and mental strain, the amount of travel, the short recovery periods between games... I believe that, in the not-too-distant future, FIFA will limit players’ minutes per season. Some players finish seasons with more than five thousand minutes, not even taking international commitments into account. That is unsustainable in the long term. Rodri (Manchester City) is one of the best examples of that. He played many matches and is coming back from a serious injury.»

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.