Athlete Welfare: Why protecting players matters more than ever

Professional sport has always demanded sacrifice. But in 2025, the price athletes pay; physically, mentally, and emotionally, has become impossible to ignore. Between relentless fixture schedules, concussion risks, mental health struggles, and uncertain post-career transitions, the question is no longer whether we should protect players, but how urgently.

This article examines the state of athlete welfare today, the pressures reshaping careers, and why safeguarding players is not just a moral obligation but a necessity for the future of sport.

The Relentless Schedule: Too Many Games, Too Little Rest

Elite athletes are being pushed harder than ever. The FIFPRO 2023 Player Workload Report revealed that some players clocked 67 competitive matches in a single 12-month period, often with fewer than four days of rest between fixtures.

For players like Kevin De Bruyne, who voiced concerns over burnout after successive long seasons, the schedule is unsustainable. Former Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane went further, saying in 2023: “We are playing too many games. The schedule is overloaded, and it’s damaging players’ health and careers.”

The mid-season 2022 Qatar World Cup offered a striking example. Data from the European Club Association showed a 20% spike in muscle injuries among top-tier players in the months following the tournament. When clubs, national teams, and governing bodies all want more matches, the players’ bodies are the ones paying the price.

Concussions and the Hidden Legacy of Head Injuries

Concussions remain one of the most pressing welfare concerns across sports. In American football, research from the Boston University CTE Center found signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in over 90% of studied former NFL players, linking repeated head trauma to devastating long-term neurological damage.

Football (soccer) is now confronting similar risks. A 2019 study from the University of Glasgow concluded that professional footballers were 3.5 times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.

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Despite FIFA and UEFA introducing concussion substitution trials, enforcement is inconsistent. At Euro 2020, France’s Benjamin Pavard admitted he had been knocked out for “10–15 seconds” after a collision, yet he continued playing. For many critics, this highlighted the gap between official protocols and the reality on the pitch.

The Mental Health Strain

Mental wellbeing is no longer a taboo subject in sport, thanks to athletes who have publicly shared their struggles. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from events citing mental health concerns, sparking a global conversation about pressure and expectations.

Football has its own voices. Andrés Iniesta has spoken openly about his battle with depression, while Dele Alli revealed in 2023 that he had spent six weeks in rehab, describing childhood trauma and the mental toll of professional sport.

According to the UK Professional Players Federation (PPF), as many as 50% of athletes experience mental health issues during or after their careers. The spotlight fades quickly after retirement, and for many, the sudden loss of identity and structure can be destabilising.

Life After Sport: A Rough Landing

The end of a playing career often arrives sooner than expected, leaving many athletes unprepared. A 2018 study in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that athletes frequently face identity crises, financial challenges, and mental health struggles post-retirement.

Some organisations are trying to respond. The NBA’s Rookie Transition Program includes financial literacy workshops, while FIFPRO has pushed for post-career education initiatives in football. But gaps remain, especially in less wealthy leagues where players lack union protection or career support.

A Shared Responsibility

Athlete welfare isn’t just a personal issue, it’s structural. Clubs, leagues, federations, and sponsors all profit from athletes’ labour and have a duty of care. Neglecting welfare erodes trust in sport and ultimately undermines its sustainability.

FIFPRO General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann summarised it clearly: “We cannot continue to expand competitions without thinking about the human beings at the centre of the game.”

If welfare is ignored, players break down, careers are cut short, and fans lose the very heroes they pay to watch.

Looking Forward: Building a Culture of Care

So, what would real progress look like? Experts and unions suggest:

• Calendar reform: fewer matches, longer off-seasons, and mandated recovery periods.
• Stronger concussion protocols: independent medical staff with final say over return-to-play decisions.
• Mental health services: confidential counselling and support networks integrated into clubs.
• Career transition programmes: education, vocational training, and financial planning during active careers.

Protecting athletes doesn’t diminish sport, it strengthens it. Fans want to see their heroes at their best, not broken down by a system that treats them as disposable.

The drama of sport is built on human performance. But without robust protections, the same forces that make it thrilling risk destroying the very people who make it possible. Athlete welfare is not an optional extra. It is the foundation for a sustainable, ethical, and inspiring sporting future.