(Reuters) – The Premier League’s unique tradition of playing on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day should not change but it must allow five substitutions to protect players amid a gruelling schedule, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Thursday.
Top flight leagues in Europe adopted the rule to increase the number of substitutions per game to five to ease the workload on players amid the COVID-19 pandemic but Premier League clubs voted against the motion.
While most leagues head for a winter break, English teams have been scheduled to play three times from Dec. 26-Jan. 2. But with more games postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, Guardiola said it was time the league adapted to changing circumstances.
“The tradition from Boxing Day (Dec. 26) is massively important. It’s a characteristic of this league. It won’t change… Boxing Day is so nice for families to all go together to the stadium,” Guardiola said ahead of Leicester City’s visit to The Etihad on Sunday.
“The problem is the fixtures, the calendar, 365 days a year, the international teams with huge competitions and a lot of games… The players have two to three weeks holiday in the summer, then the season (starts) again – it’s too much.
“Today managers talked with the Premier League and broadcasters and decided what is the best for everyone. The welfare of players should be the most important… This is the only country to not accept five substitutions, just three. Why?
“We want to protect the players, so bring five substitutions. It’s much better for the amount of games, but the Premier League and clubs decided ‘no’.”
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick agreed with Guardiola on switching to five substitutions, while also questioning the practicality of having two domestic cup competitions in England when other countries have one.
‘MAYBE WE NEED A STRIKE’
Players and managers have said player welfare is not being taken seriously enough while COVID-19 exacerbates the situation and Guardiola said they should probably come together and go on strike, although he did not want it to come to that.
“Just words won’t solve anything. (For) UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League, the broadcasters, the business is more important than the welfare,” Guardiola added of soccer’s governing bodies.
“Maybe we need a strike for people to take attention… (but) we want to play, make people happy over December and play games. We love to do that.
“I’m not saying a reason to do a strike. But when people say World Cups, European Cups, Carabao Cup (League Cup) semi-finals (over) two legs, FA Cups and Premier League — more teams, more games and less holidays.”
Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) CEO Maheta Molango said in a statement he had spoken with many senior players and that the issue was not something that could be “kicked down the road again.
“I can tell you that it isn’t going away. Players don’t choose to speak out on issues like this without having given it a lot of thought,” he added.
“As their union, the PFA enables players to stand together. That unity gives them enormous strength.
“Now it’s up to those who run the game at all levels to begin to take this seriously so it’s an issue that can be addressed constructively with players at the heart of the conversation. That has to happen now.”
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)
