Tebas backs Rodri's 'justified' player-strike threat

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has said it “wouldn’t surprise” him if players went on strike because of increasing fixture congestion, describing the concerns as “justified.”

The expansion of UEFA’s club competitions and FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup means this season will be the longest club campaign ever.

With Manchester City midfielder Rodri warning that footballers are ready to go on strike and other leading players agreeing with the Spain international in discussing the possibility of taking unprecedented action, Tebas told ESPN: “Yes, it wouldn’t surprise me because we have reached certain limits that we need to say enough already with this situation.

“When you see players of the level of Rodri speaking out and other players backing him, my experience tells me you have to take it seriously. Otherwise you will find on the table a strike request. The players have a right to strike like any worker, they are free to do so.

“When you see these wake-up calls given [by players and leagues] that are somewhat justified, you need to pay attention and find solutions.”

Premier League managers Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have sounded alarm bells over exhaustion, while Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he believes players would be willing to take a pay cut if it meant playing fewer games.

“This is a maths issue,” Tebas said. “Two plus two is four and you can’t make two plus two equals six.

“We are not thinking about the mental aspect of the players, who cannot withstand that rhythm of competition.

“FIFA organises the calendar and has to find solutions. It’s doing the calendar without even consulting others let alone reaching an agreement which is what it should do.

“We believe that certain competitions have to be reduced and in certain cases, eliminated.”

Tebas also spoke to ESPN about the possibility of playing a LaLiga game in Miami in the near future.

LaLiga has been pushing to take a regular season game to the United States since 2018, but needs the approval of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as well as the United States’ soccer federation, UEFA and CONCACAF.

“It [a regular league game in Miami] will be played but when it remains to be seen,” Tebas said. “We have to have an agreement with the federation in Spain. The federation is still in a significant void [with a president having yet to be elected] and that is causing a delay for it to happen this season. “We will see if it can be done next season.

“We would look for a moment in the season where there is a perfect break to come and play in Miami, which is the place where we want to come.”

LaLiga is not considering staging a regular season game outside of Spain other than in the U.S.