England captain Williamson refuses to rule out strike action over schedule
England captain Leah Williamson says she would “never rule out” strike action to ensure players’ concerns regarding fixture congestion are heard by governing bodies.
The Arsenal defender has only recently returned to international duty after a five-month injury layoff following the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland.
She underwent knee surgery last year and is currently preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday.
Williamson is one of several high-profile stars, including Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze, working their way back to peak fitness after a demanding international cycle.
Impact of a congested calendar
Speaking ahead of the match, the 28-year-old addressed the correlation between the relentless football calendar and player welfare.
“We’ll never know for sure but I don’t think people argue against the scheduling for fun. There’s reasons behind it,” Williamson said.
“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.”
She added: “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.”
Potential for industrial action
While dialogue remains the preferred route, the England skipper admitted that failing to listen to athletes could eventually force their hand.
When asked if she would consider more drastic measures, Williamson was clear on her stance.
“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,” she explained.
“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.”
Data highlights burnout risks
Concerns over player load are backed by data, with a recent report by players’ union FifPro highlighting a significant increase in match volume.
The report revealed that last year, the world’s top 15 players all participated in 50 or more games for the first time since data collection began in 2020.
Fellow Lioness Keira Walsh has previously urged authorities to “listen to the players” regarding the congested schedule.
Williamson emphasised that players have been proactive in sharing training load and female health data with stakeholders to find a workable solution.
“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 said.
“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?”