Players ‘could REFUSE to play for England but carry on as normal with their clubs’ insists PFA chief… after Man City star Rodri revealed they are ‘close to striking’ over hectic schedule

Players could strike for England but continue playing for their clubs according to the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association. 

It comes after Manchester City star Rodri revealed that the world’s elite stars are considering striking over the increasingly hectic schedule in the sport.

Pep Guardiola’s side kick off their expanded Champions League campaign against Inter Milan tonight, and could end up playing 73 matches this season – which won’t finish until July given their participation in the new Club World Cup.  

Maheta Molango, the PFA chief, has claimed that any industrial action within the sport could target ‘national team competitions’. 

Asked what form any strike would take, Molango told BBC Radio Five Live, as per the Telegraph : ‘We’ve been very clear that we want to give priority to our domestic competitions. This is the bread and butter of our players, so I don’t think that the issue is here domestically.

‘I think the problem is more in terms of international competition, especially the national team competitions, for example, or this new format of World Cup that happens in the summer.

‘So, I don’t think that the focus is forcibly on domestic competitions. The focus is more on international ones and I think we need to define now what this may look like.’

Rodri echoed Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson’s criticism of an ever-expanding calendar, while the PFA are working on legal action against FIFA due to an ‘overloaded and unworkable’ schedule.

The Spain international – who featured for 5,275 minutes across 61 appearances for club and country last season.  

‘I think we are close to that [striking],’ Rodri said ahead of tonight’s clash with Inter Milan. 

‘It’s easy to understand [why]. Ask any player and they’d say the same. If it keeps going this way it’ll come to a moment where we have no other option. It is something that worries us.

‘I think it’s too much. Someone has to take care of us, because we are the main characters of this sport, or business, or whatever you want to call it. Not everything is money or marketing, it is also the quality of the show.’

Molango told BBC Radio Five Live that Rodri’s warning was a ‘natural consequence when people feel ignored’. 

The Telegraph have reported that though there is no immediate threat of Premier League players going on strike, an increasing number have made it clear that they are ready to take industrial action since the expansion of the Champions League and Club World Cup.

Rodri pointed towards Erling Haaland’s extended summer break as a reason for a blistering start to this term as he said: ‘He had a long break because his country didn’t qualify for the Euros and you see you how he is performing.

‘It gives you a clue why we ask this. I think between 40 and 50 games is the amount a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop, because it’s impossible to sustain the physical level.

‘If the people want to see better football, we need to rest. When the amount of games starts getting bigger, the performance and quality of the games gets lower.’

A PFA spokesperson said: ‘In recent weeks our members have made their feelings very clear when it comes to the fixture calendar and player workload.

‘Players and their unions have asked to be listened to and to be a central part of these processes. When they are ignored then the natural consequence is that players will begin to consider all options available to them.

‘Players are repeatedly saying that enough is enough, and this must now act as a serious wake up call to the authorities.’