'It's impossible make FIFA see reason' - Ousmane Dembele injury debacle sparks outrage from French players' union as president calls for state intervention to ease calendar

Outrage has erupted in France after Dembele and Desire Doue suffered serious injuries while playing for the national team against Ukraine, with the French players’ union accusing FIFA of overloading the international calendar. UNFP president David Terrier called on the governing body to "see reason", warning that the current schedule is putting players at risk.

Dembele’s setback occurred just 30 minutes after he came on as a substitute against Ukraine, as the 28-year-old pulled up with a hamstring problem. He is expected to miss at least six weeks while Doue will be out for around four with a calf injury.

For Paris Saint-Germain, it is a double blow ahead of their opening Champions League game of the season, and the club did not hide their frustration. In a statement, the French champions directly criticised the national federation, claiming the injuries to both players were “serious and avoidable".

Dembele’s absence is even more painful for PSG, given the season he just had. The forward was at the heart of their historic campaign, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists as the club finally lifted their first Champions League trophy. His brilliant season put him into the Ballon d’Or race, with many tipping him as a favourite to win.

The situation has reignited the debate around player welfare and the overloaded calendar. French union president Terrier stressed that FIFA’s control of the international schedule is at the root of the problem and has called for urgent changes. 

Speaking to Ouest-France, Terrier highlighted that the problem goes beyond Dembele and Doue’s injuries and even called for governments to intervene.

"We must therefore all work together to put new rules in place as quickly as possible to succeed in protecting the players despite everything," he said. "We are asking the State to intervene since it is impossible, despite numerous communications, actions and complaints, to make FIFA see reason."

He added: "We've been denouncing the overload of international calendars for three or four years. And this will inevitably impact domestic leagues, because top players are playing more and more, for economic reasons. And conversely, the "average" clubs are playing less and less and salaries are falling.

"We're attacking FIFA because it controls the international calendar. It has all the competitions voted on because all the confederation presidents are also FIFA vice-presidents. Attacking FIFA is therefore attacking everyone, the entire football industry. These competitions exist and have grown because the federations didn't oppose them. And the clubs that participated in the Club World Cup were very happy to have done so. 

"Now the question is how we can protect the players. Some say that under these conditions, they are no longer able to play optimally and put on the show expected by the public, who pay for their tickets or their TV subscription. And where we agree with PSG's request is that we demand protocols that better protect football players. This can be medical, but also with rest periods."

France will continue in the World Cup qualifiers without Dembele and Doue, with a clash against Iceland on September 9. PSG, meanwhile, will now have to reshape their plans for the coming weeks, with both stars ruled out ahead of a crucial Champions League showdown against Barcelona on October 1.