Vincent Kompany calls for ‘cap’ on number of matches professionals play

The Belgian believes squads of 40 players will soon be needed as football’s fixture calendar continues to fill up.

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes a cap should be placed on the number of matches top professionals can play as football’s fixture calendar continues to fill up.

The Belgian is concerned by the workload being placed on top stars, who can commonly play 50 to 60 games a season.

Kompany, who is part of world players’ union FIFPro’s Global Player Council, told Belgian television network Sporza: “Yes, well, it does not have to be a limitation, but a sort of cap. There is no other way: we will probably be playing 100 matches soon!

“After the last World Cup I might have had seven days of vacation. I think that in the last two to three years, I might have had two seven-day breaks.