Why the International break contributes to the Premier League injury crisis

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The 2023/24 Premier League season has seen one of the most competitive title races in decades, with  defending champions Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all determined to take the challenge to the last game of the season.  The exceptional quality and performances of the players on the pitch has come with demands that are unsustainable.

There is currently an injury epidemic in the world of European football.  In the Premier League alone there are 127 players sidelined with injury across the 20 clubs, an average of more than six injuries per squad.  This injury crisis can be traced back the to mid-season 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar which placed an unprecedented strain on the players involved.

The footballing schedule did not make an exception for the 831 players involved in the World Cup, in fact the schedule has only gotten more intense.   Arsenal have already played 44 matches this season and will play 54 minimum.  Manchester City have played 47 games and will complete a minimum of 57 while Liverpool have played the most with the Reds sitting on 49 matches to date and will reach a minimum of 59.

The problem with injuries and workload comes with the additional demands of midseason international qualifiers and friendlies.  The Times show that the instance of injury increases by five percent after an international break.  The latest run of international fixtures saw Ollie Watkins, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Andy Robertson, Miguel Almiron, Jamaal Lascelles, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Alphonse Areola all set for a spell on the sidelines.

The biggest factor contributing to the increased chance of injury is fatigue.  This can be seen with the types of injuries that have hit the Premier League the hardest.  As of November 2023 there had already been 53 hamstring injuries, 28 knee injuries and 21 ankle injuries.  All three are the most common injuries associated with fatigue.

Newcastle United have had the worst luck, suffering 29 separate injuries with players missing a total of 1333 days so far this campaign.  Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have all suffered at least 27 separate injuries.

To avoid running their mental and physical fitness into the ground, clubs and national teams aim to build training programs around the demands of the schedule, this however does not align with their interests.  An example of this scenario is Mohamed Salah’s hamstring injury during the AFCON.  Salah does not have a significant injury history but missed nearly two months after damaging his hamstring.  Egypt wanted Salah to lead them to an AFCON victory while Liverpool wanted Salah to be used sparingly.

Ultimately the problem with the increased rate of injuries in world football is not down solely to the international break, it is just a symptom of a greater issue within the sport where TV scheduling and revenue streams dictate the footballing calendar.  Sports scientists, medical professionals and coaching staff aiming to produce the best product with player welfare in mind have taken a backseat, with organizations like the Premier League, UEFA and FIFA still looking to add more fixtures to an already congested schedule.

 

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Dylan Johnson