FOOTBALLERS are playing too many games and not enough is being done to protect them, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca today.

In the same week that Manchester City’s Rodri suggested footballers could strike in response to fixture congestion and a lack of consultation from governing bodies, Maresca said that refusing to play “could be an idea” and hinted he believes players would be right to take action against the number of games they are being made to play.

Chelsea and City are due to take part in Fifa’s inaugural Club World Cup in the United States next summer, further limiting the amount of downtime players will get in between seasons following Euro 2024 and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.