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Studies have found that players below 21 are more prone to injuries and spending more times on sidelines in recent seasons.
Kobbie Mainoo (Image via @FabrizioRomano ‘X’)
New Delhi: As the Premier League progresses, injuries are becoming more frequent among players, with many blaming a packed calendar as the main reason. It is coming to notice that players below the age of 21 are spending more time in injury than before with knee problems becoming more frequent.
According to data from the global insurance group Howden’s ‘Men’s European Football Injury Index,’ it is a common trend across European men’s football leagues. Apart from the congested calendar, many are also blaming the style of the football that is being played today as it is going towards more pressing and running style.
James Burrows, head of sport at Howden, has said that players are in an increasing amount of physical pressure. He believes the heavy international and club-level schedule will make more players go on the sidelines for extended periods. It is because of this that more players and coaches are advocating for assured rest and recovery.
Numbers don’t lie, and if it came down to comparison, Jude Bellingham had played 251 games before he turned 21 in June this year, while former English captain David Beckham had only played 54 games. It is true that the players are getting pushed to the limits. The number of minutes they are playing has increased at a much younger age for players than before.
Professional Football Association has said that they are constantly backing football calendars that support players’ recovery and the amount of physical stress they can handle. This is more required for young talents who can have long careers.
Increase in young players in injury
🚨⚠️ Bad news for Man United as after Bruno Fernandes’ red card, Kobbie Mainoo has been subbed off with an injury. pic.twitter.com/pAuPyHRYuN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2024
The young players have been most affected by injuries and are spending more time out of football in recovery. Last season, under-21 players in the Premier League have spent approximately 43.92 days out due to injury. It is 26.5 higher than 2022-23 and a 187% increase from the 2020-21 season. The number of days spent in injury has gone up from 901 to 2,240, and injuries suffered have increased from 34 to 51 in the 2023-24 season.
The increase has been the same across La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1. However, young players during the campaign, prolonged by a mid-season World Cup in 2022, saw fewer injuries among young players.
Increase in knee problems
In all the top five European men’s leagues, knee injuries are plaguing more players. Last season, there were 367 instances in which players suffered from knee-related issues. It is a big jump from the 2020-21 season, where in comparison it was only 279. Though average days spent in recovery from a knee injury may have fallen slightly from 52.95 to 51.46 in the last two seasons, it is a massive rise from the 2021-22 season, where it was 33.56
In last four seasons, Premier League has recorded a total of 297 knee injuries with only Bundesliga with 384 injuries having more to their name.
Financial expense
🚨🔴 Harvey Elliott expected to be out until late October due to fractured foot, as @_pauljoyce reports.
He won’t be available at least until the end of the next international break. pic.twitter.com/Fle6eAax7Y
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 11, 2024
Apart from the physical duress on players and the constant ‘replacing and shunting’ manner of adjusting the field in the absence of players, injuries are costing the top European clubs a lot of money as well. Last year, the top five divisions in Europe had spent £732m.
According to reports by Sporting Intelligence and Football Feeds, last season in the Premier League, 915 injuries cost £265.6 m, up from £240.4m the previous season. Premier League teams have been hit with an injury every 94 minutes of the competition, costing them £3,081 per minute. The overall cost of injuries across Europe have increased by 5% compared with the 2022-23 season.
Importance of addressing a congested schedule
With Europe’s top leagues and Fifpro taking FIFA to the European Commission claiming “abuse of dominance,” it is clear that the added number of matches is one of the root causes of the number of injuries today. The argument against FIFA is that they are hosting a 32-team Club World Cup, which, in general was a period for rest for players.
On the other hand, FIFA have said that they had consulted all stakeholders, including the World Leagues Association and Fifpro, before going for the new changes made to the 2025-30 international matches. FIFA feels that clubs just want friendlies and summer tours, which involve much more global travel.
Players, including Bellingham, have said that the schedules are “crazy” and there is no space for recovery both mentally and physically. There is little doubt that players need to be rested, and a solution needs to be there so that there could be a space of breathing for everyone.
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