Premier League chief executive Richard Masters warned that the sport "cannot rely" on star players to maintain their level of performance amid an expanding football calendar that he believes leaves domestic competitions in need of protection. Star players such as Chelsea's Cole Palmer, described as shattered by the head of English footballers' union, find themselves in a position where they may be playing in major tournaments in three straight summers, the 2026 World Cup coming on the back of a Club World Cup in the United States last summer and the European Championships in the previous year. During the regular season, the toll on top talent has been somewhat increased by the addition of at...
