- BBC experts have sounded the alarm about how busy the football schedule is
- France beat Portugal on penalties to secure a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2024
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Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand have called for extra time to be scrapped from football competitions, warning of the sheer number of games professional footballers play each season.
BBC analysts raised concerns after neither France nor Portugal managed to score the winning goal in 120 minutes on Friday night, with Didier Deschamps’ side eventually beating the 2016 European champions 5-3 on penalties.
During his analysis of the match, Lineker expressed concern about the fatigue some players were experiencing during extra time. The BBC Match of the Day presenter noted that both sets of players have had a long and gruelling season of football.
The observation prompted the former Tottenham and Everton forward to question whether it was time to ditch extra time and go straight to penalties. Lineker also noted that players are being asked to play more games during the season – a topic that has struck a chord with managers such as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp in the past.
“I have to say I wonder if there are extra-times with the players these days. It’s at the end of an incredibly tough football season,” Lineker said during the BBC’s live broadcast of the match.
Gary Lineker (pictured) and Rio Ferdinand have called for extra time to be scrapped after France’s win over Portugal
Ferdinand (pictured) raised the alarm about how busy the fixtures are, adding that players will reach a ‘breaking point’
That happened after France defeated Portugal on penalties in their quarter-final at the 2024 European Championship.
He added of the already busy football schedule: ‘They have to play so many football games.
‘I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve seen some players in this tournament who looked tired.’
Lineker then suggested a solution: ‘If they’re asking them to play more football games, Rio, then maybe they could give them something back by abolishing extra time.
‘Because everyone at home wants to see the penalties if it goes into extra time!’
Ferdinand agreed with the referee’s opinion and felt that matches should be decided directly by penalty kicks.
“There comes a breaking point,” said the former Manchester United defender.
“The players are going to be destroyed. If we produce more competitions and more games, the players are going to be destroyed. I don’t think it’s fair to the players.
‘You have to find a way to take away the minutes and go straight to penalties instead of extra time.’
Several matches at Euro 2024 were decided in extra time. England reached the quarter-finals thanks to a decisive header from Harry Kane in the 91st minute of their match against Slovakia on Sunday.
Joao Felix (pictured) painfully missed a penalty in the shoot-out, sending Portugal down 5-3
France now progress to the semi-finals of the competition, where they will face Spain
Cristiano Ronaldo (second right) was a disappointed figure at the conclusion of the season, with the Portuguese superstar having previously indicated he would retire after Euro 2024.
Spain scored a last-minute winner against Germany on Friday night, thanks to a goal from Mikel Merino in the 119th minute of extra time, eliminating the home team from Euro 2024.
Some managers have already spoken out strongly against the already busy football schedule, with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola among those who complained about the overcrowded schedule.
This came after the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 came under fire from players’ unions and leagues. Together, they spoke out against the tournament’s introduction by writing a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In the letter, the players’ unions and the leagues wrote that the football programme has now ‘passed saturation’.
The letter goes on to say that the new Club World Cup, in which 32 teams will participate, will “push players to their limits”.