Sunday, October 13, 2024, 18:07
| Updated 7:11 p.m.
In the competitive world of soccer, injuries represent a constant concern for players, coaches and fans. In recent years one in particular has gained notoriety: the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. This serious injury can have devastating consequences for an athlete’s career, and its incidence has increased alarmingly. This season there have already been 22 injuries of this type in Europe’s five major leagues. The curse of the crusader has no brakes on the Old Continent. In just two months of the course, in preseason and in official competition, in the Spanish League there have been five, while the Italian Serie A has already suffered eight.
A study carried out by researchers from the University of Malaga reveals that, in the Spanish First Division, an average of eleven cruciate ligament ruptures were recorded per season, from 2010 to 2020. This statistic translates into an incidence of 0.0016 injuries for every 1,000 hours of play, which suggests that, on average, each team will suffer at least one such injury every two seasons. The 2022-2023 campaign marked a significant change, with the number of cruciate injuries increasing from seven to thirteen.
Cruciate ligament injuries in elite football are the result of a combination of physical, technical and environmental factors. Among the most common causes are:
–Calendar saturation. The accumulation of matches and the lack of adequate rest increase fatigue in players, making them more vulnerable to injuries. The constant pressure to compete at a high level, coupled with a tight schedule, reduces the quality of recovery. This situation has led some footballers to consider the possibility of a strike due to excessive workload, as is the case of Julián Álvarez, the former Manchester City player now at Atlético, who played 75 games last season, and his former teammate Phil Foden, with 72. According to Dr. Pedro Ripoll, a specialist in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, “the sum of minutes accumulated throughout the season is a danger to the footballer’s health and increases the likelihood of injury.”
–Game techniques. Sudden movements, such as sudden turns and changes of direction, are common in soccer and can lead to ligament injuries. Impacts with other players and the use of cleats on boots also aggravate this situation.
–Physical conditions and training load. Physical overload, combined with a lack of adequate preparation and specific training, can weaken the muscular and ligamentous structure of players, making them more prone to injuries. Last season, four breaks were recorded in the month of August alone.
–Psychological factors. Emotional pressure and performance anxiety play a crucial role. Many players feel the need to compete despite fatigue or minor injuries, which can lead to more serious problems. «The players, the federations and LaLiga cannot be seen as spectators in the face of this problem. It is necessary to establish limits that protect the health of footballers,” claims Dr. Ripoll.
–Seasonality. According to the study by the University of Malaga, injuries are more frequent during the months of September-October and March-April, possibly due to the accumulation of matches and accumulated physical wear and tear.
Structural changes
The impact of cruciate injuries goes beyond the long absence of a player. The average recovery time after a ligament tear is approximately seven months (218.8 days), which has direct consequences on the team’s performance. This prolonged absence not only affects the player’s physical health, but can also have a negative impact on his professional career. Some players, like Thibaut Courtois, have managed to successfully return after a long rehabilitation, while others, like David Alaba, are still struggling to fully recover. The inability of players to contribute to the team impacts group dynamics and can destabilize overall performance. Furthermore, clubs are forced to make tactical and strategic adjustments to adapt to the lack of key players.
The increasing incidence of injuries raises the urgent need to reflect on the management of the health and well-being of footballers. It is essential that clubs, federations and leagues collaborate to implement changes that protect players and minimize the risk of serious injuries. Reviewing competition calendars, adjusting match scheduling to allow more time for rest and recovery, could be crucial for the health of players. Also promote awareness about injury prevention. Clubs should invest in prevention programs, including specific training, workload education and proper techniques.
Among the most notable cases of this season is that of Dani Carvajal, who broke his anterior cruciate, in addition to the external collateral ligament and the popliteal tendon of his right leg at the end of the Real Madrid-Villarreal match. Before him were victims of the crusader Marc Bernal (at the end of Rayo-Barça), Hamari Traoré (during Getafe-Real Sociedad), and Joan Martínez and César Palacios, Real Madrid youth players who were injured during the white first team’s preseason .
European Leagues, LaLiga and FIFPro will denounce FIFA for the match calendar
The European Leagues, an association that represents 1,130 clubs in 33 countries of the Old Continent, LaLiga and the international footballers’ union, FIFPro, will present this Monday a complaint to the European Commission against FIFA, which they accuse of abusing a dominant position about the match schedule. Clubs and players consider that the highest world body did not adequately consult leagues and footballers about the new international calendar before it was announced in March of last year and that it has caused it to go “beyond saturation” of matches played. throughout the season.
The complainant group estimates that FIFA has favored its own commercial interests and “has harmed the economic interests of the national leagues and the well-being of the players” with the increase in matches, especially with the increase to 32 teams in the new World Cup. Clubs every four years. FIFA, however, insists that its calendar approved at the congress held in Rwanda in 2023 was the result of several consultations and that it has the right to establish the format of its competitions, such as the Club World Cup.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who oversaw the expansion of European club competitions, acknowledged Thursday during the ECA (European Club Association) assembly that the overload of matches “has reached its limit and there is no room for more games”, although, in his opinion, this circumstance only affects some specific clubs and players.
«The impact is not the same. Some clubs have a lot of load, but many others have plenty of capacity. Who are complaining? Those with the highest salaries and those with 25 top-level footballers. Those who earn less and only have eleven players do not complain and love to play,” proclaimed Ceferin.
