Yes: 33%
No: 57%
Don’t care: 10%
What the players said:
“Why not? I think that it’s done in other sports, such as the NBA, and it could help teams like us, that are not Madrid or Barca, to grow in other countries.”
“Yes, they should, if it helps in growing LaLiga. Why not?”
“It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to score as many goals as possible. But I think LaLiga deserves attention because it’s a great league.”
“I don’t think so. LaLiga should be played in Spain: Its supporting bases and stadiums are all here.”
“No, it would alter the competition, because it gives a disadvantage to the one who should play in its stadium and must do it outside of its country.”
5a. Has there been any point in your career when you’ve felt you have played way too much?
Yes: 39%
No: 61%
What the players said:
“There have been moments throughout the season in which we don’t have much time to spend with our family, especially at Christmas or when we travel abroad for the preseason. It gets tough.”
“I’ve been fortunate to play in the past in European competitions, and you must play there almost every two or three days. It’s especially hard when you have children and you can’t spend a lot of time with them because you’re traveling back and forth.”
“We’re being exploited a lot.”
“No, there hasn’t. It’s my profession.”
“Not at all. I work doing what I love to do. I love football and all things surrounding it.”
“I don’t even play on Thursdays, so I can’t say I play too much.”
5b: Does playing at 9 p.m. local time seem too late for you?
Yes: 29%
No: 71%
What the players said:
“Evenings are always the best time for me.”
“The Champions League is played at this time, and everyone watches it.”
“As a football player, I don’t think so; but as a fan, especially thinking about the children, I do.”
“It’s OK to play at 9 p.m. If you play too many matches, then [it might be a negative], but it’s all right.”
“It must be changed because we might end up exploding ourselves; 9 p.m. is not a very suitable time slot.”
“We get so little rest, so sometimes I feel like I have played too much. And that 9 p.m. time slot isn’t good at all.”
THE GLOBAL GAME: A wider look at football
Players have opinions about the wider game, as well, so what are some of the big issues for them?
1. Are you in favor of playing the World Cup every two years?
Yes: 14%
No: 80%
Didn’t want to answer: 6%
What the players said:
“It will detract some value from the world’s greatest competition if you play it more often.”
“No, I’m not. It distorts its purpose.”
“I think the fact that it’s played every four years brings more excitement.”
“I don’t understand why you would change something that’s working well already.”
“Football players have less and less rest and more and more matches. I think we should take more care of our health.”
“It would clutter the schedules for all of us.”
“It would depend on what they would do about the Euros; however, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Yeah, but I’d take away the Euros. There’s something about the Euros that’s nice, as well. But I wouldn’t mind having the World Cup every two years at all. There’s nothing more enjoyable than a World Cup on the international level.”
“There are fans that only watch football when the World Cup or the Euros are on, and we would gain more fans.”
“If my national team calls me up, it doesn’t matter.” [Laughs]
2. Which rule in football would you change?
Handball: 27%
Stoppage time: 16%
VAR: 14%
Offside: 4%
Harsher penalty decisions: 4%
Goalkeeper on line for penalties: 4%
None: 18%
Other*: 13%
*Other: Ability to protest versus referee; limiting substitutions; no limit to substitutions; remove suspensions after five yellow cards; remove penalty shootouts; put microphones on the refs.
What the players said:
“Handball rules. There are specific handball rules I don’t like because I don’t understand when it’s a handball and when it isn’t.”
“Handball inside the box because it’s not even understood by referees.”
“All the time you waste with the VAR.”
“VAR criteria. Often, players don’t understand the referee’s decisions.”
“I would play with a stopped clock. It bothers me when the opposing team wastes time, and that would be a potential solution.”
“The clock should be stopped, just like other sports. That way, we would avoid wasting time.”
“To make the minutes in stoppage time more accurate.”
“The offside rule. [Look at] the Eric Garcia play vs. France in the Nations League.”
“Penalty shootouts. They’re unfair.”
“Increasing penalties for contact with goalkeepers.”
“Any rule that goes against goalkeepers.”
3. How often do you fake or exaggerate a foul?
Never: 45%
Sometimes: 35%
A lot: 20%
What the players said:
“I don’t like to do that kind of thing. However, it’s true that I’m a player that gets a lot of fouls because of my game and position on the field.”
“I don’t like faking fouls, and I don’t particularly appreciate my teammates doing it.”
“I never fake fouls. Sometimes, I exaggerate.”
“I never do. I get hit a lot, and hard.”
“I’ve never been the best at trying to fool someone.”
“It depends on the minute you’re playing in.”
“I do it, just like everyone else. In the final minutes of a match if we’re winning.”
“I always do … all the time.”
4. Beyond your team’s matches, how much football do you watch a week?
No games: 10%
From 1 to 2 games: 48%
From 3 to 5 games: 24%
More than 5 games: 18%
What the players said:
“I like to watch the teams where some of my former teammates play. Both in first and second divisions.”
“I always watch PSG. I’m a football fan. I want to become one of the best, and watching a lot of football will improve my skills. It can teach you a lot. I watch football not just to enjoy but to analyze. I watch my own clips to improve.”
“I only watch big matches, such as El Clasico or any Champions League matchup I like.”
“Between three or four matches, depending on my kids.”
“I used to watch three or four matches per week, but since I have kids, I watch less.”
“Not many. I try to disconnect from football when I’m off.”
