Footballers' calls for strikes are empty, futile noise - they should point the finger at their clubs' obsessive and self-defeating lust for money, writes IAN LADYMAN

They took it in turns to sit on the stage behind the microphones and rail against the system, the schedule they feel is pushing them towards injury, exhaustion and burnout. As they sat at official press conferences before the first games of an expanded and bloated Champions League season, the manifestations of modern football’s ugly, obsessive and self-defeating lust for money were all around them. Manchester City midfielder Rodri revealed that the world's elite players are considering going on strike amid concerns over fixture scheduling Similarly, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson slammed the new Champions League format as the football calendar becomes even more congested for this season And this is what it’s about. City could play up to 73 matches this season as games continue to be added to the calendar Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham had clocked up 18,837 career minutes by his 21st birthday Ask them why they pushed to be part of a European Super League and, when that failed, agreed to a revamped Champions League schedule that already feels pointless and onerous. #QPR’s absolute carnage of an equaliser yesterday against Sheffield Wednesday with the Benny Hill theme song is gold 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/JBI1Oxz9Um — Ben 🇮🇱🎗️ September 15, 2024 QPR salvaged a point from their trip to Sheffield Wednesday after a goalmouth scramble A tribute to Toto It was the summer of 1990 and I was doing six weeks of work experience at the Newcastle Journal.