PFA chief labels Cole Palmer a ‘calendar casualty’ after he pulls out of England squad

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, prompting Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango to describe him as a “victim of the calendar” and to highlight concerns over player workload.

Molango made the remarks at the Fifpro performance summit in London, noting that Palmer was one of five high‑profile England players to pull out of the recent call‑up, with his absence linked to load‑management amid a congested fixture schedule.

She questioned why a player eager to represent his country would have to miss a call‑up, pointing to the growing physical demands of modern football and suggesting that Palmer’s situation – he could have featured in four consecutive summer tournaments – exemplifies a broader systemic issue.

While England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed frustration, saying Palmer is missing opportunities to establish himself, Molango warned that bodies have limits and called for reforms such as a mandatory three‑week summer break followed by a three‑week retraining period, arguing that the current calendar is unsustainable.

Source: www.gistreel.com