# Extended international break causes injury worries

> Premier League players face more injuries during longer international break.
- Title: Extended international break causes injury worries · BBC Sport
- Summary: Premier League players face more injuries during longer international break. Extended international break increases player injuries but offers team bonding…
- Keywords: premier league, championship, fifa, player welfare, injury, international break, england squad, manchester city, erling haaland, niso, tuchel, women's super league
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq8jz7verm24o
- Published: 2026-10-05T14:54:39.535+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: premier league, championship, fifa, player welfare, injury, international break, england squad, manchester city, erling haaland, niso, tuchel, women's super league
## Extended international break
The first international break of the 2026-27 season is almost over with players returning to domestic action from Friday after three weeks instead of two.
## Why extended break?
Fifa reduced international breaks from five to four to address player travel and scheduling around the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July.
## Injury concerns rise
Multiple players including Erling Haaland and Alex Scott withdrew from squads with injuries during the extended break.
## NISO expresses worry
The Norwegian players' union said the burden on top players has become too high and wants clearer guidelines for workload and recovery.

> Over time, we have seen a worrying trend where the burden on top players has become far too high
## Tuchel's mixed view
Tuchel called the extended break 'more challenging' but noted team bonding benefits and improved training sessions.

> I can assure everyone that player welfare is priority number one
## Fan reactions
Fans criticize the break for causing boredom and player withdrawals, while others see opportunities for lower league matches.

> Shay, Swindon: I don't think any Premier League or Championship fan backs this idea. It's just boring without your club in action for so long.
## Women's league benefits
Women's teams play home matches at larger men's stadiums to boost attendance and provide TV coverage for lower leagues.
## Attendance trends
Five of seven Women's Super League games had higher attendance than their season average during the break.

> In the WSL, five of the seven games played over the weekend had a higher attendance than the home club's season average.
## Injury impact
Players like Erling Haaland and Alex Scott withdrew with injuries, raising concerns about player welfare during the extended break.

> On Monday, it was announced that Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott had withdrawn from the England squad with a thigh injury
## Next steps
Club managers hope no more injuries occur with three days of fixtures remaining before the break ends.
## Key takeaway

Extended international break increases player injuries but offers team bonding opportunities.