Leah Williamson 'would never rule out further action' over scheduling concerns
The England captain returns to Lionesses duty after five months out, warning that player concerns over the fixture calendar must be addressed.
Leah Williamson has said she would “never take further action off the table” if player concerns over the women’s football calendar continue to go unheard, as she returned to England duty ahead of the upcoming international break.
The England captain has returned to St George’s Park for her first Lionesses trainingn camp since Euro 2025 after five months out with a knee injury. Speaking on workload and player welfare, she emphasises the importance of rest and recovery amidst a congested fixture schedule.
“Of course we want to play all the time,” she said. “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.”
Since Euro 2025, 11 England players have suffered significant injuries, including Lauren James and Lucy Bronze. In November, midfielder Keira Walsh encouraged governing bodies to “listen to the players” regarding the fixture calendar.
When asked specifically whether players would consider “strike action”, Williamson affirmed: “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, so I would never take it off the table.”
A recent report from FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for over 70,000 professional footballers, found that the top 15 players have played 50 games or more in one season. The data showed that Aitana Bonmatí had the highest number of appearances, playing a total of 60 games for Barcelona and Spain.
Reflecting on her own injury period, Williamson acknowledged that she “stayed quite present” which she hasn’t necessarily done before. “I was glad I did as it’s a lot easier to come back into the fold and be ready, at the same level as your teammates.”
England begin their international fixtures with a World Cup qualifier next Tuesday against Ukraine, a side they haven’t faced since 2014. The match will take place in Antalya, Turkey, a neutral venue due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, a situation that Williamson describes as “incomprehensible”.
“I’m sure Ukraine would have loved to play in their own country and we would have loved to play there too but it’s not feasible because of the war,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to an occasion that celebrates those players. I’m proud to play for my country. I can’t imagine how they feel to step out in the Ukraine kit.”
With the captain back involved in the squad, England will hope to translate their preparation into a positive start on the pitch next week.