Player Fatigue Distorting European Football - World Football Academy

World Football Academy presents ground-breaking study demonstrating player fatigue is distorting European Football

• Clear performance deficit suffered by teams playing after only two days’ recovery
• Domestic title and European qualification outcomes affected
• Study author, Raymond Verheijen, calls for mandatory three-day gap between matches

After studying the results of 27,000 professional matches, Verheijen said he had concluded that rest period of three days proved sufficient and did not give rise to any noticeable change in the chances during the second match.

The world players’ union FIFPro back recommendation

BERNE (Reuters) – FIFPro fully backed a study conducted by Dutch coach Raymond Verheijen which said that two days were insufficient and significantly affected a team’s chances of winning.

FIFPro’s technical director Thys Tummers said the devaluation of the Europa League could be a direct consequence of the two-day rest periods

“Clubs in the Europa League that want to gain a place in the highly lucrative Champions League increasingly favour the (domestic) competition in which they can gain qualification for the Champions League and rest their best players for the Europa League fixtures,” he said.

“This has been the consistent policy of Tottenham Hotspur throughout this season. The team was eliminated in the group stage.

“Twente Enschede, even though they had a lead of 1-0, fielded a weakened team for their return match at Schalke 04 and were eliminated.

“This undesirable effect could be avoided in the future by giving players and teams three days’ rest between two matches.”

Tummers said there were other reasons for following the recommendations.

“First, there is the question of fair play. By allowing one club only two rest days, you give the teams an unequal chance of a good result.

“In addition, we must take care that our players are not overused. First, because of the health of the players, but second, because the public want to see the players perform at their best.

“That doesn’t happen after just two rest days. It is plausible that the number of injuries is higher after only two rest days; a follow-up study is currently being held into this.”

Press release:

http://worldfootballacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WFA_Study-on-recovery-days_pressrelease_9May2012.pdf

Report:

http://worldfootballacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WFA_Study-on-recovery-days.pdf