Liverpool manager Matt Beard has harshly criticized FIFA’s international quota, saying a balance in the schedule needs to be found to prevent further injuries across the Women’s Super League.
Beard’s team has been plagued by injuries this season. The Liverpool manager said that at times they only have three available midfielders and in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal to close out 2024, they only had three available forwards.
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Asked what needs to change to prevent further injuries, Beard said the FIFA window needs to be addressed and more balance in the schedule needs to be found.
“If you take the period of September and add the period of June and July, international players, when was the last time you took a day off?” he said in a press conference after the defeat to Arsenal. spoke.
“All the players in the preseason had muscular injuries, all of them were players who were in camp in June and July, because they went from doing nothing (to doing a lot). And it is impossible to do (a lot) by doing nothing.
“Currently, all top clubs wanted to change this period from September, as they needed a week to prepare their teams for the start of the season. There is a difference, but that is my opinion. Because there are players who need to be on the beach, resting, relaxing, recovering, and then gradually recovering into a season with two big spikes.
“They’re playing two or four games, but it’s supposed to be an off period, so I think that’s going to be the issue in the end. There’s also a major tournament in the summer, so the players are resting. He will need to recover and the national team would like to have a break of two to three months before major tournaments.
“I think for these international players, we need to improve the balance from an international perspective, otherwise we will continue to have a situation like this.”
Beard also lamented the introduction of a FIFA Club World Cup for women’s teams to be held in January and February 2026, adding further problems to the scheduling problem. FIFA also confirmed that a second World Women’s Club Competition, similar to the men’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup, will be held annually from 2027. The athletes have participated in successive tournaments since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), the 2022 Euros, and the 2023 major tournaments. The World Cup, the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 Euros will all follow suit.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to see where injuries start, but there’s been a spike in injuries across the board. These players haven’t had time,” he added. .
“Where are they going to fit it (Club World Cup)? When are they going to rest? So if it’s going to be in January and February, it’s a Christmas break for their players and for their club. It’s not going to happen.” That’s where we go.
“Before you start adding other competitions, you need to get the domestic competitions first and then the FIFA slots. Otherwise you will face the same problem, injury after injury. Yes.” We’re going to lose a top player. ”
Beard also touched on Manchester City’s spate of injuries. The second-placed WSL team is without a significant number of players due to short-term and long-term injuries, including Vivian Miedema, Khadijah Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood.
“They have a bigger team and better players, but they play all kinds of football – international, domestic, Champions League – and with their second loss this season they will probably be eliminated from the title race today,” he said. said.
He admitted Liverpool “really” don’t have the budget to work on in the January transfer window, but added that three key members of the squad – Marie Hobinger, Sophie-Romain Haug and Rhian Kiernan – will be available for the winter season. He shared positive news that he should be back after the break.
