England and Arsenal defender Leah Williamson stated she would never rule out strike action to address concerns regarding the congested football schedule. Williamson expressed these views during an interview following the release of a FIFPRO report on player workload, according to The Guardian. The defender noted that the physical and mental demands on elite players have reached a critical point due to the addition of more matches to the international and domestic calendars.
FIFPRO, the global players' union, recently highlighted the increased injury risks associated with limited rest periods between seasons. Williamson suggested that players may need to take collective action if governing bodies do not respond to their messaging, per Sky Sports. She emphasized that the quality of the game suffers when players are constantly fatigued. Currently, several high-profile players in both the men's and women's game have voiced similar concerns about the sustainability of the current fixture list. FIFA and UEFA continue to expand tournament formats despite these warnings from professionals.
