PFA backs Rashford & slams fixture list with player wellbeing fears growing

PLAYERS’ welfare is under ­serious threat from football’s “mad” calendar, union bosses fear.

Prem clubs will play at least 64 summer friendlies in 15 countries over 26 days BEFORE the new season starts.

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SunSport today reveals they will travel a staggering total of 170,758 miles — almost seven times round the planet.

Manchester United’s England striker Marcus Rashford insists the number of games in a season is already too high.

And PFA chief executive Maheta Molango warned: “A properly co-ordinated approach to the football calendar is needed to address the growing  pressure being placed on players. They themselves are saying their wellbeing has to be prioritised.”

West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice played 61 times for club and country last season.

And Manchester City Treble-winner Jack Grealish was involved in 59 games.

Both players also featured in an extra three Nations League matches last June.

Three Lions team-mate Rashford spoke of his worries ahead of England’s latest Euro 2024 qualifiers.

He said: “It is mad that, at club level, we are  playing three games a week from November until we get knocked out of Europe.

“It is difficult but  I am not the one who has to have the answers.
“In the early stages of my career I couldn’t make sense of it. Some managers have spoken out against it.

“If one team  plays 60 games a season and another  38, there has to be some time to recover for the team playing 20 more.”

United are scheduled to travel 15,531 miles for seven friendlies — in Oslo, Edinburgh, New York, San Diego, Houston, Las Vegas and Dublin — before their Prem opener against Wolves on August 14.

And Tottenham will fly a total of nearly 20,000 miles for friendlies in Perth, Bangkok and Singapore.

Molango, 40, is not only worried about the number of pre-season games and international matches but also new tournaments such as Fifa’s re-packaged 32-team Club World Cup, which will be staged in the United States in 2025.

He added: “Players’ schedules will become even further complicated by the expansion of both club and international calendars in the coming seasons.

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“Space will need to be found alongside the long-distance pre-season tours clubs already take part in.

“A player-first approach is needed, one that acknowledges the need for a balanced and sustainable calendar.

“This is crucial for the overall health of the sport.”