Dani Carvajal calls on UEFA and FIFA to protect players' welfare – 'A player cannot play 60 games a year'

It has been a ridiculously long season for players at the highest level of football, who have now played almost non-stop for the better part of 11 months. Because of this, there have been increased requests for football's governing bodies to protect players for overplaying.

Barcelona's Ilkay Gundogan has played more than 60 games since August, while his teammate Lamine Yamal, who will face on Friday, when Germany will face Spain in the first quarter-final of Euro 2024, rack up his 58th match of the season as a 16 year old.

Dani Carvajal spoke about the matter during his press conference on Thursday (via MD), and asked UEFA and FIFA to make serious changes to the schedule.

“I think this issue is not only for Lamine, but for any footballer who plays in three competitions. UEFA, FIFA and the Federations must consider that a player cannot play 60 games a year.

“The Super Cup has arrived, the Champions League has at least two more games, a World Cup with a month away from home… It's an impractical schedule. We can't keep the level playing every three days.”

Like Lamine Yamal, Carvajal also lines up Spain against Germany, and discussed the task at hand for La Roja.

“I see my teammates very calm and very confident. We have to do things right to win.

“Germany, man for man, has first-class players. They resemble us and our weapons. The pace of the game will depend on the height of their pressure and strength.”