HE FIFA virus has emerged as the season’s foremost nemesis for professional football. The September and October international windows had already claimed a heavy toll, but the most challenging stretch came last week during the national team fixtures, when 27 players were sidelined. Among the prominent names affected were Gavi, Camavinga, Vinícius, and Muriqi.
The Kosovo striker sustained an injury in the match between Kosovo and Israel, a game postponed because of the Palestine conflict. This development contributed to the Mallorca-Cádiz clash being rescheduled to Sunday, November 12.
There are several European clubs that have already voiced opposition to a pattern that reappears with every break. This issue has not yet found a resolution from the international bodies governing football.
“Martyr comrade” Gavi’s cursed night: “The locker room was an awakening”
The latest warning came during the recent international pause. Stars from top clubs suffered injuries, underscoring the ongoing risk involved when players depart for national duty. The most notable case is Barcelona’s Gavi, who faces a lengthy layoff of at least eight months following a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, with additional damage to his external meniscus.
Earlier, Real Madrid also reported injuries to players such as Camavinga and Vinícius, with expected absences of 2 to 3 months. Erling Haaland was advised to rest for about two weeks after a spell with Manchester City, while young sensation Zaire-Emery from Paris Saint-Germain is not anticipated to return before 2024.
The Spanish League stands out as one of the leagues most affected by injuries, with many clubs losing players during national-team duty. This pattern has impacted Villarreal, where Aïssa Mandi played on crutches due to ankle problems in a match against Mozambique, with the full extent of the injury still undetermined.
Meanwhile, the condition of the German goalkeeper appears less serious. Marc-André ter Stegen is expected to miss only a short period if his back issue does not worsen, and the Spanish international Mikel Oyarzabal may be unavailable for a month, leaving Real Sociedad with limited options.
HE FIFA virus has grown into the season’s arch-enemy for professional football. The September and October breaks had already produced a sizeable casualty list due to international commitments, but the most recent week dedicated to national team duties proved especially damaging, with 27 players affected. Among the high-profile cases are Gavi, Camavinga, Vinícius, and Muriqi.
The Kosovo striker sustained an injury in the Kosovo–Israel match, which was postponed because of the ongoing conflict, forcing the Mallorca–Cádiz game to be played on a later date in November.
A number of European clubs have already expressed clear opposition to a pattern that recurs with each international window. This issue has yet to be resolved by the governing bodies of football on an international level.
“Martyr comrade” Gavi’s cursed night: “The locker room was an awakening”
The latest warning arrived during the most recent break. Several players from major clubs suffered injuries. Barcelona’s Gavi stands out as he faces at least eight months out due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in the right knee, accompanied by external meniscal injury.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid reported injuries to Camavinga and Vinícius, with an anticipated recovery of 2–3 months. Haaland was advised to rest for around two weeks after a spell at Manchester City, and PSG’s young talisman Zaire-Emery is not expected to return until 2024.
The Spanish League remains among the leagues most affected by injuries, with many teams losing players during national-team commitments. This has been the case for Villarreal, where Aïssa Mandi left the field on crutches due to ankle problems in the match against Mozambique, with the final diagnosis still pending.
Marc-André Ter Stegen’s condition appears less serious, and Barcelona hopes not to endure a protracted absence. The same goes for Mikel Oyarzabal, whose absence could disrupt Real Sociedad for a month.