Premier League clubs 'want a reduction to 18 teams' after players threaten strike action

Some Premier League clubs would reportedly support an initiative to reduce the English top flight to 18 teams. A host of players and managers have spoken out about fixture congestion over the last few seasons, with matches coming thick and fast for the elite clubs.

Last month, Manchester City ace Rodri suggested players could choose to strike due to the workload on players.

And days later, the midfielder suffered a season-ending knee injury, with some people questioning whether his hectic schedule was a contributing factor.

With 20 clubs in the Premier League, teams play 38 league matches across the campaign. A top-flight club that won the FA Cup would face a further six matches, while the Carabao Cup would throw up another six fixtures at least for the eventual champions.

UEFA also made major alterations to the European club competitions over the summer after expanding the Champions League and Europa League to 36 teams and changing the formats. And that means the winners of those could now be forced to play 17 games.

With international fixtures also coming into the mix, before the Community Shield and new-look Club World Cup are even taken into consideration, it isn’t hard to understand why some players feel they are at breaking point.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has told the Daily Mail that “initiatives like reducing the Premier League to 18 teams is something certain clubs would like”.

But the 57-year-old doesn’t think that solution would be supported by the teams who are dumped out of the top-flight and has suggested clubs manage players’ gametime to help ease the burden.

He explained: “The common-sense solution is for their employers to manage resources better rather than seek outside help. Chelsea have left Cole Palmer out of their Europa Conference squad, a self-regulating way of prioritising that means no competition should have to die on the vine.”

And he added: “We’re at a stage where leading players and their unions are flexing their muscles. The more they earn, the freer they feel to tell you what they don’t like.

“However, you can imagine the silence if it were suggested there might be economic concessions on their part to achieve the outcome of fewer matches.”

But if enough of the top players decide to take strike action as a group, football chiefs may be forced to appease them. “I think we are close to that (striking). I think if you ask any player he will say the same,” Rodri explained last month.

“It is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it’s the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option. I really think, but let’s see.”