Real Madrid may have won in Villarreal, but there has been a lot of anger about the decision to play the game on Saturday.
The issue lies in the lack of rest that the Real Madrid player had after the debilitating Champions League collision against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Carlo Ancelotti was very unhappy that his team had for at least 72 hours between matches, and he was in danger of not playing when it happened again.
Real Madrid and Ancelotti are now supported by the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE), which have issued a statement (via Marca).
“The Association of Spanish football players (AFE) consider it essential that players have at least 72 hours of rest between competitions to maintain their health status, both physically and mentally. A criterion that is marked, moreover through the recommendations of FIFPRO, the International Federation of Professional Footballers' Associations, of which AFE is one of the founders.
“As Afe agreed in 2020, both with the Royal Spanish football federation (RFEF) and with La Liga, as a result of the health crisis, the minimum interval between competitions to retain the health of the players would retain 72 hours. In view of the increased risk of injuries and the decline as a result of fatigue after the game that football players have suffered, it has always been not negotiable for AFE to have a recovery time between 72 and 96 hours for players participating in two games a week. “
AFE also mentioned that three La Liga clubs are in the same boat as Real Madrid, with those the parties who were in European action on Thursday.
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