Phil Foden is a 'victim' of fixture schedule, says PFA chief

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been described as a victim of football's packed fixture schedule following his omission from the England squad. The assessment was made by Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association.

Foden failed to earn a spot in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the upcoming tournament in North America after a challenging season. Despite being named the PFA player of the year for the 2023-24 campaign, Foden's performance levels have since fluctuated, a trend Molango attributes to the demands of the current game.

Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those pursuing commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the spectacle and the protection of players, who should be football's heritage. Maheta Molango

Molango, who also serves on the board of the global players' union Fifpro, noted that the frequency of matches has negatively impacted Foden's availability and form. Fifpro argues that players cannot sustain high-threshold performance levels over consecutive years without suffering from fatigue, declining form, or injury.

The union has highlighted similar risks for other high-profile players, including Arsenal's Declan Rice and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. With the expanded 48-team World Cup approaching, Molango expressed fears that top-tier football is becoming a test of survival rather than a showcase of skill, as elite players reach a breaking point after playing close to 60 games per season.