England captain Leah Williamson says she would “by no means rule out” strike motion to get gamers’ messaging throughout to governing our bodies about schedule issues.
Williamson, 28, missed 5 months with harm following England’s victory at Euro 2025 as she recovered from knee surgical procedure.
She returned to motion initially of December, serving to Arsenal win the Ladies’s Champions Cup in February, and was chosen for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Williamson is one among a number of big-name gamers who’re nonetheless returning to full health following England’s success in Switzerland, alongside Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze.
Talking earlier than England’s sport in opposition to Ukraine on Tuesday, 3 March (17:00 GMT kick-off), Williamson was requested in regards to the potential causes of harm.
“We’ll by no means know for certain however I do not suppose folks argue in opposition to the scheduling for enjoyable. There’s causes behind it,” stated Williamson.
“If you happen to hearken to the gamers’ group, in fact we need to play on a regular basis, however the extra profitable you might be – and this staff has been very profitable – then the much less relaxation you may have and the upper threat of harm there’s. It is an accumulation.
“The gamers, I am certain, would love to only flip up and play soccer, however we use our voice and we attempt to get entangled in conversations with the hierarchy in order that they at the least have our perspective. Whether or not they hearken to it or not, is out of our management.”
Gamers’ union FifPro launched a report, exterior in November saying that final yr was the primary time because it began amassing knowledge in 2020 that the highest 15 gamers on the planet had all performed 50 video games or extra in a season.
England midfielder Keira Walsh beforehand urged governing our bodies to “hearken to the gamers” in regards to the congested fixture schedule.
Requested whether or not Williamson would think about extra drastic motion, similar to gamers putting, she stated: “I’ve not had any conversations about this proper now, but when a gaggle of individuals do not feel like they’re getting listened to, then historical past means that’s the one manner they are often heard.
“I’d by no means take it off the desk. I do not suppose that is the place we at the moment are. I believe we’re nonetheless in a spot the place we will collaborate, pay attention and educate.”
Williamson additionally revealed gamers have been “forthcoming” with offering stakeholders with coaching load and feminine well being knowledge.
“It is primarily round the remainder durations and making an attempt to get all governing our bodies to align. It at all times seems like we’re asking for a vacation, however that is not the case,” she added.
“I am an expert footballer and a part of my job can be to relaxation, which I am inspired to take action by my managers and the environments we play in.
“So why is that not prioritised after we’re left to our personal units?”
