- BBC presenter Gary Lineker has hit out at the packed football schedule
- A host of international players featured as Nottingham Forest faced Brighton
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Liverpool fans right to lambast Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Gary Lineker has hit out at the packed football schedule, with the BBC presenter insisting that the situation needs to be addressed in order to protect the welfare of players.
Nottingham Forest beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup after the game had ended 0-0 after extra-time.
The quality of the game was perhaps impacted by the late returns of several players who had been on international duty outside Europe.
Pervis Estupinan, Kaoru Mitoma and Carlos Baleba, who all started for Brighton, each travelled more than 11,000 miles during the international break.
Meanwhile, Forest’s Murillo travelled more than 13,000 miles, with Ola Aina travelling over 9,000 miles.
Speaking on BBC Sport, Lineker said: ‘It’s a bigger point than this game. Football needs to address this a little bit, the player welfare.
BBC presenter Gary Lineker has insisted that football needs to address its player welfare issue
Pervis Estupinan, who started for Brighton, travelled over 15,000 miles during the international break
Nottingham Forest’s Murillo travelled over 13,000 miles with Brazil during the break
Lineker added that fans will also be impacted by the situation as the quality of matches will suffer.
He said: ‘I know people will say players get paid a fortune, of course they do and they will not complain. It’s not about just the players but it’s also the paying public will suffer because you’re not going to get players at their very best.’
Lineker continued: ‘Four Brighton players that started today, look at the miles. You’re talking jetlag as well, you haven’t got time to get over the jetlag, you’re just getting over it then you’re coming all the way back.
‘I remember playing for England in friendly games and we flew to Australia and we had two days before the game. I couldn’t put one leg in front of the other. That has got to play a part’.
Former Brighton and Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray stated the problem is especially significant for South American players.
Murray said: ‘The South Americans as well, they don’t play until the Wednesday night and it’s that knock-on effect. At least the European lads are finished on Monday or Tuesday, it just gives that extra 24 hours.
‘When you’re 24 hours later in South America and then you’ve got a flight to take into consideration, the time difference it’s obviously going to have a negative impact.’
Theo Walcott outlined the impact that excessive travelling can have on players.
Glenn Murray stated that players from South America are at a disadvantage as they often play their games later
Theo Walcott outlined the impact that excessive travelling can have on players
He said: ‘I totally agree. Even players as well, confined to your rooms so they won’t have the opportunity to go out and explore different cultures. That’s the other side that people wouldn’t see. It’s a lot of football, a lot of travelling.
‘You want to see the best guys playing and keeping fit, there were a few guys limping. There’s a lot of games.’
The problem surrounding player welfare is a hot topic given the expanded Club World Cup, which is set to take place this summer.
32 teams, including Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City, will take part.
