'We had to go and that's it' - Raphinha lashes out at FIFA 'forcing' players to give up 'sacred' holiday to feature at Club World Cup

Barca star Raphinha has launched a fresh attack on FIFA and the expanded Club World Cup, criticising the decision to hold the tournament during players' short summer break. The Brazilian winger called it “unacceptable” that many participants would be denied holidays, branding the situation “very difficult.”

Raphinha’s remarks echo a rising backlash against FIFA’s calendar. Just recently, France’s footballers' union (UNFP) issued a scathing statement targeting president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of “trampling player welfare for money” and calling the 32-team tournament “a massacre” that should be stopped. The Club World Cup, currently taking place in the USA, has already come under fire for poor timing, injuries, and its heavy physical toll on players.

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Speaking at an event, Raphinha did not hold back when addressing FIFA’s scheduling of the competition, saying: "It's very difficult to give up vacation time to play something we're forced to. Many of the World Cup participants won't have vacation time; it's unacceptable. Three weeks of vacation time are sacred."

Reflecting on the lack of autonomy players feel, he added: "You have to go, period, because we follow orders; we have to be there playing. And, as a player for a European club, giving up my vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated. It's really bad having to give up your vacation to play something you're forced to, because at no point did they ask us players about anything.

"At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what the ideal dates were. They just said we had to go and that's it."

Raphinha’s sharp words speak to a broader player welfare crisis in modern football. With a growing number of international fixtures, revamped tournaments, and commercialised pre-season tours, players face year-round demands with little to no recovery time.

Barcelona missed out on the tournament due to their FIFA co-efficient, but Raphinha’s stance shows concern for colleagues across Europe and South America who were “never asked” if they wanted to participate. His frustration echoes a wider concern among elite footballers over burnout, injury risks, and mental fatigue, as the calendar becomes ever more congested.

The Brazilian winger, currently on a break in his home country before reporting for Barca’s pre-season on July 13. He is expected to play a major role under Hansi Flick at Camp Nou, but his criticism adds to a wave of backlash FIFA must reckon with.