Ellie Carpenter has issued a plea to FIFA to reconsider the scheduling of major tournaments in women’s football to avoid further overlaps with major club tournaments.
The organisation of the football calendar has come under fire time and time again, with players calling for better scheduling to keep them at their physical peak.
But another issue with the scheduling has since arisen in the women’s game, with many football stars left to watch their teammates at club level compete for titles without them.
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The Women’s Asian Cup is nearing its end, but the tournament is played outside the international window allocated across European and UK leagues.
The timing of the tournament means that Carpenter and Matildas teammate Sam Kerr were unable to play in the League Cup final with Chelsea, who defeated Manchester United 2-0 to win the title.
Chelsea’s Millie Bright (centre right) and Erin Cuthbert (centre left) lift the League Cup trophy. PA Images via Getty Images
The pair are not alone in missing key fixtures at club level, with those playing in the National Women’s Soccer League also missing the season opener over the weekend.
Carpenter has now issued a clear message to FIFA about the scheduling dilemmas.
“I don’t think any other major tournament runs through the season and obviously that is disappointing for some,” she said.
“Sam are I have a league cup final that we are missing and that’s quite disappointing.
“Now that women’s footballers who are in the AFC are now playing in Europe that definitely needs to be looked before the next one in four years.
“Maybe putting it in June or July when normal major tournaments are on.”
Ellie Carpenter speaks to media ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup semi final. Nine
The likes of the Women’s Euros and the Copa America Femenina are both scheduled to take place in July, a month after competition ends across all leagues.
If there is no major tournaments are on that year, it is common that teams will go on an international pre-season tour and compete in friendly matches.
“Hopefully that is looked at because it is not nice missing league games and a congested tournaments in the middle of the season is also not great for longevity,” Carpenter added.
While Carpenter can only celebrate her team’s success from a distance at the moment, she is hopeful that her time away from Chelsea will end in a trophy for Australia.
Sam Kerr and teammate Ellie Carpenter during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Corbis via Getty Images
The Matildas will take on China in the semi finals on Tuesday, with the head coach in the opponent’s dugout a familiar face for Australia.
Ante Milicic was in charge of the Matildas in 2019 and since departing the side has gone on to accept the top job with China – a team that has long been a strong, organised force in the women’s game.
Entering the semi final off the back of a win against DPR Korea, Carpenter believes the team has learned enough about themselves and their looming rivals heading into battle.
“(China) are a tough team to breakdown,” she said.
“They have great attacking threats as well so we know they’ll be organised, they are the reigning champions of this tournament.
“You really saw the belief in this team (against DPR Korea), the grit of the Matildas and how we can win games with maybe not playing the best football, with maybe not being the better team on the day.
“It is a big game for us but we are ready.”