In the debate about the high workload in professional football, more and more players are talking about going on strike if necessary to make their voices heard. But can football stars actually go on strike? A lawyer explains.
Will there really be strikes in the European football leagues soon? If it’s up to Rodri and other well-known football stars, a work stoppage is definitely an option to draw attention to the high level of stress. But what is the legal situation? Can the players simply go on strike? An expert explains.
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Strikes by football professionals are not possible from a legal point of view, said Christian Solmecke, lawyer and author, to SPORTS1.
Strike in football? “Otherwise legal sanctions are threatened”
“In theory, individual football players can stop working if their individual health is at acute risk, but they must also give individual reasons for this and then provide medical evidence. Otherwise, there is a risk of legal sanctions,” explained the lawyer.
A nationwide strike is therefore actually prevented by law.
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Nevertheless, Rodri’s clear words were met with approval by other well-known footballers. Jules Koundé from FC Barcelona supported the Spanish European champions: “I absolutely agree with Rodri. The calendar is getting tighter, the number of games is getting higher and the recovery time is getting shorter.”
Rodri receives support from other football stars
The Barca defender said: “At some point it may be unavoidable to go on strike because it may be the only way to make our voices heard and draw attention to our concerns.”
Willi Orban, long-time central defender of RB Leipzig, also showed understanding. As a Manchester City player who does not have a winter break in England and also gets far in all competitions, the additional matches of the Club World Cup are “very, very difficult for load management and actually madness for the players.”
City coach Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, does not rule out the possibility that the players will resort to this drastic measure. They are the only ones “who have the necessary power” to change something.
