Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is among the players to have sustained injuries during the extended September/October international break, which has already claimed several high-profile casualties across Europe's top leagues.
When players suffer injuries while representing their countries, the clubs employing them may be entitled to financial compensation under specific conditions. Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, Nico O'Reilly, Kai Havertz, Brian Brobbey and Dan Ballard are among the Premier League players to have been sidelined during this international window, with two full rounds of fixtures still to be played. Real Madrid striker and France captain Kylian Mbappe has also picked up an injury during this period.
When does a club qualify for compensation?
A club becomes eligible for compensation when a player sustains a new injury while on international duty that prevents them from participating in full training or competitive matches for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. The compensation is administered through Fifa's Club Protection Programme, which applies to injuries sustained by accident while players are under their national association's control for senior "A" team duty, including training and travel. According to Fifa's official documentation, the programme currently runs through 31 December 2026.
The compensation package is calculated based on a player's salary and covers international breaks in which official "A" matches are scheduled on the international match calendar. The eligible period begins when a player departs their club's premises to report for international duty and concludes at midnight local time on the day they return home or 48 hours after leaving their national team, whichever occurs first.
How much compensation can clubs receive?
Clubs can claim a maximum of 7.5 million euros in compensation, calculated at a daily pro rata rate of 20,548 euros per day. For a player who misses a full year, the maximum compensation period is 365 days. Importantly, only salary compensation is covered under the scheme; bonuses and one-off payments specified in a player's contract are excluded from the calculation.
Compensation is paid directly to clubs by Fifa. A club can only receive compensation for the same player and the same injury for a maximum of 365 days total.
What types of injuries are excluded from coverage?
Pre-existing injuries that recur during an international period do not qualify for compensation. However, if a player sustains a new injury that reoccurs within less than 30 days, the club remains entitled to compensation. The programme does not cover players who become sick, permanently disabled or die. Similarly, players who sustain self-inflicted injuries or attempt to take their own life are not covered.
Notably, the programme does not extend to injuries sustained while playing for youth national teams, including under-21 sides. Compensation ceases if the player returns to full training or matches, the player's contract expires, the player dies or changes occupation, or the club has received the maximum permitted compensation for that individual.
What is the current impact on Premier League clubs?
Several Premier League sides are currently assessing the fitness of injured internationals ahead of the league's resumption. According to the Premier League's injury updates, Liverpool's Alexander Isak has returned from Sweden for assessment of a minor thigh injury, while Cody Gakpo has also returned from Netherlands duty with an ankle injury. Their availability for upcoming fixtures remains uncertain. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes missed Portugal's match against Norway with an injury but was expected to be fit to face Denmark on 1 October.
The extended nature of this international break—spanning three weeks in late September and early October with teams scheduled to play four international matches rather than the usual two—has increased the injury risk for clubs. Premier League matches are scheduled to resume on 10 October, with Liverpool facing Manchester City on 11 October, making the fitness status of Isak and Gakpo particularly significant for the title contenders.
Key Facts
- Clubs receive compensation only when players sustain new injuries during international duty that result in at least 28 consecutive days of absence from training and matches
- Maximum compensation is 7.5 million euros at a daily rate of 20,548 euros, with a 365-day limit per player per injury
- Only salary is compensated; bonuses and performance-related payments are excluded
- Pre-existing injuries that recur do not qualify, but new injuries that recur within 30 days do
- Youth international injuries, self-inflicted injuries and illness-related absences are not covered by the programme
