Manchester United boss, Pep Guardiola has called on players to embark on strike in order to force football authorities take their welfare more seriously.

The Spaniard wants the players to understand that the world football governing body, FIFA, the Premier League management, the TV and other broadcasters only care about the business and not their welfare.

Guardiola revealed he would not attend the managers’ meeting because the only way to protect players was to strike, but swiftly added that the strike would not happen because clubs want to keep playing.

“I don’t think (a strike will happen) because we want to play. But when people say more competitions, more games and more games and less holidays… we played the first two or three games without players this season,” the Spaniard told reporters ahead of festive fixtures.

“And now we talk about welfare for players in this moment?’ he added.

“Everyone take a look at yourself. For FIFA, the Premier League, the broadcasters, the business is more important than their welfare.”

The Spaniard noted that the Premier League tradition from Boxing Day is massively important and special in England

“This is not going to be changed. I do not approve to play every two days but after three days it is tradition,” the former Barcelona boss added.

The Premier League has already cancelled some matches initially slated for the Boxing Day over the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The Premier League called off matches between Liverpool and Leeds and Wolves v Watford due to COVID–19 outbreak.

The matches were cancelled with Leeds and Watford both making requests for their games to be called off due to lack of availability of players to execute the games.

Share on:  Whatsapp  Twitter  Facebook