Jamie Carragher raises red flag on Football Calendar

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has publicly criticized the increasingly congested football calendar, following emerging reports about the scheduling complications caused by the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.

Carragher took to his X account to voice his concerns, highlighting the excessive demands placed on top players.

“The amount of football we ask the top players to play is beyond a joke,” Jamie Carragher wrote.

“The quality drops & more importantly the injuries rise. @FIFPRO will have more battles on their hands with @UEFA @FIFAcom going forward.”

His comments were a reaction to a post detailing the anticipated chaos in the football calendar. According to the post, the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) is set to be moved to late December through late January, which would overlap with the Premier League’s busy Christmas schedule due to the Club World Cup.

This shift could necessitate a FIFA rule change, requiring clubs to release players twice in one year, further complicating the already packed fixture list with the 2026 World Cup also on the horizon.

Carragher’s criticism underscores a growing concern among players, clubs, and football associations about the physical toll on athletes and the potential decline in match quality due to relentless scheduling.

Prior to Jamie Carragher lending a voice on the topic, former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has been a notable critic of fixture congestion and the football calendar, with the German never shying away from taking a shot at the football stakeholders.

As the debates heat up, stakeholders in the football world are bracing for further disputes over player welfare and the management of the sport’s global calendar.