Rummenigge blames players for busy schedule

Bayern boss says excessive games are meant to offset footballers’ increasingly high salaries

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, member of the supervisory board and former Bayern star , says the exponential increase in the number of games on the calendar is due to the “increasingly higher salaries” demanded by footballers.

In an interview with Kicker magazine, the former striker stressed that the demands force «clubs to generate more and more revenue», which, in turn, requires «more and more games».

“The players and their agents and advisors fell into this trap,” added Rummenigge, who also recommended that the various football agents sit down at the table and discuss mechanisms that will lead to “more serious and rational times in business as well.”

The former Bavarian president also expressed his support for the new format of the Club World Cup: “This competition, which will be held for the first time in this format next year, will inspire people. It will be a good tournament, I am convinced. And it only takes place every four years, don’t forget that.”