Mikel Arteta has warned that clubs may pull out of competitions if fixture congestion continues to be a major issue, with some teams facing multiple matches in quick succession. The Arsenal manager believes that every decision made about fixtures should prioritize player welfare and supporter satisfaction.
The issue of fixture congestion is particularly pertinent for the upcoming 2028 Champions League final, which will be held in Munich due to the absence of any other bidders. Wembley and Camp Nou are among those vying to host the 2029 final, with several venues associations declaring interest.
Arteta noted that while big clubs may initially prioritize some competitions over others, ultimately it is not a sustainable solution. If clubs ignore the principles of player welfare and supporter satisfaction, they risk alienating fans and damaging their reputation in the long run.
The issue of fixture congestion is particularly pertinent for the upcoming 2028 Champions League final, which will be held in Munich due to the absence of any other bidders. Wembley and Camp Nou are among those vying to host the 2029 final, with several venues associations declaring interest.
Arteta noted that while big clubs may initially prioritize some competitions over others, ultimately it is not a sustainable solution. If clubs ignore the principles of player welfare and supporter satisfaction, they risk alienating fans and damaging their reputation in the long run.
. i mean, some teams are already having to play 3-4 games in like 10 days or something? how are they supposed to recover from that? and then they're worried about the reputation if they don't make it to the final? seems like clubs are just gonna have to find a way to balance everything out... maybe some sort of rotation system or something? 
... like, what's next? Are we gonna have to play games in space or something?! 
Arteta makes a valid point tho - fixture congestion is real 
, and it's not just about the teams, but also the players. I mean, think about it, if you're constantly playing matches back-to-back, your body's gonna start to break down 
... and don't even get me started on the fans - they deserve better than to be stuck in a crowded stadium with no decent snacks 
. Arteta's right, prioritizing player welfare and supporter satisfaction is key... let's hope clubs listen up 
. And let's be real, it's not just about the players, it's also about the fans' experience... they want to see their teams compete in a way that's not just about raking in the cash 
. I hope Wembley and Camp Nou do end up hosting that 2029 final - at least there, we can pretend like we care about the actual competition 
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It's not fair to them or the fans who want to see their team do well. And yeah, I get that some big clubs might prioritize certain competitions over others, but in the long run, it's all gonna backfire if they don't think about player welfare and fan satisfaction first. If we don't address this issue, teams are gonna start skipping games or pulling out of tournaments altogether... it's just not worth it 
Like Mikel Arteta said, prioritizing player welfare is key - their health comes first! And as a fan, I want to enjoy the games without being too stressed about when my fave team will get some rest 
. It's all about finding a balance. Let's hope these big clubs take notice & make some changes 
. But seriously, it's not just about the players, it's about the fans too. I mean who wants to watch a game where the team is literally exhausted? 
Not me, defo! And what's with all these 2028 & 2029 finals? Can't they just pick one venue already? 
️. Mikel Arteta makes a good point about prioritizing player welfare – those big clubs might be all about winning now, but what's the point if they can't even care for their own players? I hope Wembley and Camp Nou have their chances of hosting the 2029 final... it'll be nice to see some decent rest for teams in between matches 
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. And it's not just that - fans deserve better too! If clubs keep putting profits over people, they'll lose their loyal supporters in no time 
. It's not just about the short-term gain; it's about long-term sustainability. Clubs should be thinking about what's best for their team and fans, not just about winning trophies