Barcelona president Joan Laporta has launched a scathing attack on FIFA’s international calendar after star winger Raphinha was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Raphinha suffered the hamstring injury during a friendly against France, leaving the Catalan giants without one of their most influential players for a season-defining run of fixtures.
Laporta did not hold back his frustration as he shares his assessment of the international schedule. Speaking to Mon Esport, the Barcelona president made it clear that the club feels let down by FIFA’s management of the global footballing calendar.
“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 stated. “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, in the time of the season where we are playing for everything. It’s infuriating!”
Raphinha will be out for five weeks (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona are set to be without the service of Raphinha for the next five weeks, a major blow to Hansi Flicks’ side pursuit of glory.
Raphinha is ruled out of both legs of the crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid, as well as several high-stakes La Liga matches.
The Brazilian forward has been productive this season, recording 19 goals and eight assists across 31 appearances.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are looking at lodging a complain to FIFA to address the situation, particularly given the injury occurred in a non-competitive fixture following a long-haul trip to the United States.
The club feel they are eligible for financial indemnity through the FIFA Club Protection Programme, owing to the fact that the player will be sidelined for more than 28 days.
