Kevin De Bruyne, the attacking midfielder for English club Manchester City, has shared his thoughts on the issue of the congested match schedule resulting from the expansion of tournaments overseen by UEFA and FIFA.
RTBF quotes De Bruyne as saying:
The real problem will emerge after the Club World Cup. Maybe this year things will be okay, but next year could be problematic. The Professional Footballers’ Association in England and other player associations have tried to find solutions. The issue is that UEFA and FIFA keep adding extra matches, and we can raise concerns, but no solutions have been found. It seems that money speaks louder than the players’ voices.
This season, De Bruyne has participated in four matches across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist. His contract with the club runs until the summer of 2025, and according to data from Transfermarkt, the Belgian's market value is estimated at 50 million euros.
As a reminder, this season the Champions League, as well as the Europa and Conference Leagues, are being held in a new format that involves more matches. The new Club World Cup will take place in the United States, featuring 32 teams. Previously, professional football unions have voiced their concerns regarding the expanded calendar and have threatened legal action against UEFA and FIFA.
Uli Hoeness, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, has also commented on FIFA's plan to expand the Club World Cup in 2025, which will include 32 teams from six confederations.