Williamson 'Wouldn't Rule Out' Strike Over Schedule
Leah Williamson has led England to back-to-back European titles.
England captain Leah Williamson has stated she would "never rule out" the possibility of strike action to ensure players' concerns about scheduling are heard by football governing bodies.
Williamson, 28, missed five months due to injury after England's Euro 2025 victory as she recovered from knee surgery.
She returned to play in early December, contributed to Arsenal's Women's Champions Cup win in February, and was selected for the World Cup qualifiers held this month.
Williamson is among several prominent players still regaining full fitness following England's success in Switzerland, alongside Chelsea's Lucy Bronze.
Before England's match against Ukraine on Tuesday, 3 March (17:00 GMT kick-off), Williamson was questioned about injury causes and whether players might consider striking to draw attention to their concerns.
"We'll never know for sure but I don't think people argue against the scheduling for fun. There's reasons behind it," said Williamson.
"If you listen to the players' group, of course we want to play all the time, but the more successful you are - and this team has been very successful - then the less rest you have and the higher risk of injury there is. It's an accumulation.
"The players, I'm sure, would love to just turn up and play football, but we use our voice and we try to get involved in conversations with the hierarchy so that they at least have our perspective. Whether they listen to it or not, is out of our control."
Players' union FifPro released a report in November stating that last year was the first time since data collection began in 2020 that the top 15 players worldwide all played 50 or more games in a single season.
England midfielder Keira Walsh has previously urged governing bodies to "listen to the players" regarding the congested fixture schedule.
When asked if she would consider more drastic measures such as striking, Williamson responded:
"I've not had any conversations about this right now, but if a group of people don't feel like they're getting listened to, then history suggests that's the only way they can be heard.
"I would never take it off the table. I don't think that's where we are now. I think we're still in a place where we can collaborate, listen and educate."
Williamson also noted that players have been "forthcoming" in sharing training load and female health data with stakeholders.
"It's mainly around the rest periods and trying to get all governing bodies to align. It always sounds like we're asking for a holiday, but that's not the case," she added.
"I'm a professional footballer and part of my job is also to rest, which I'm encouraged to do so by my managers and the environments we play in.
"So why is that not prioritised when we're left to our own devices?"
'We Are Seeing the Defined Season Disappear'
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) stated that while the women's game is "going through a period of intense change," innovation and calendar expansion must not compromise player welfare to avoid repeating mistakes from the men's game.
"Players do not raise the possibility of strike action lightly," the PFA said.
"It becomes a last resort when genuine engagement and meaningful consultation are absent."
The PFA is pursuing joint legal action with the French and Italian players' unions against FIFA over the "overloaded and unworkable" football calendar.
"We are seeing the defined season disappear, with players expected to move seamlessly between domestic and international competitions across what is effectively a year-round calendar," said the PFA.
"That has consequences for performance, recovery, mental wellbeing and career longevity."
