Barcelona: Spanish football giant Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has slammed FIFA over what he described as a congested and poorly planned international calendar after the team’s prime player, Raphinha, suffered a hamstring injury while representing Brazil.
The injury occurred during an international friendly against France, leaving FC Barcelona without one of their most in-form attackers at a crucial stage of the season.
Laporta did not hold back in his criticism of the scheduling, pointing out that such injuries in non-competitive matches could have serious consequences for clubs competing for major honours, and FIFA must look out for the clubs before making the schedule.
“Raphinha’s injury is a shame. We must ask FIFA to draw up an international calendar that takes into account the competitions in which the major clubs are involved,” Laporta said.
“It’s a friendly match, and one of our best players suffers an injury. Of course, it’s annoying. You can’t blame the players; they are professionals, and they give their all for their country. The problem is the crowded schedule, at a time of the season when we are playing for everything. It’s infuriating,” he added.
Barcelona’s medical team has estimated a recovery period of around five weeks for the Brazilian winger, effectively ruling him out of several key fixtures across competitions.
Head coach Hansi Flick now faces a significant selection challenge, with Raphinha expected to miss both legs of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Atlético Madrid. In addition, he is also likely to sit out multiple high-stakes matches in La Liga, where Barcelona are locked in a tight title race with Real Madrid.
Raphinha has been a standout performer for Barcelona this season, emerging as a key figure in the team’s attacking setup. His contributions in terms of goals and assists have played a vital role in the club’s strong campaign domestically and in Europe.
FC Barcelona currently leads the La Liga standings with 73 points from 29 matches, but Real Madrid are close behind in second place with 69 points. The four-point gap could narrow quickly, especially if Madrid wins while Barcelona drops points in their next fixture.