Toni Kroos: Footballers are just ‘puppets’ for UEFA and FIFA

Germany midfielder Toni Kroos feels that footballers are just “puppets” used by governing bodies FIFA and UEFA and are powerless in discussions about competitions such as the Nations League or a possible new European Super League.

“At the end of the day, as players, we’re just puppets for all these new things which are invented by FIFA and UEFA. Nobody asks us,” Kroos said in his podcast ‘Einfach mal Luppen’.

Kroos, who made his 100th appearances for Germany last month, is in the squad for Wednesday’s friendly against the Czech Republic as well as Nations League matches against Ukraine and Spain.

The 2014 World Cup winner feels if players had more say they “wouldn’t be playing in the Nations League, nor a Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, nor a Club World Cup with 20 or more teams.”

The Real Madrid star said he feels such tournaments are planned “to suck out everything financially, and, of course, physically from every single player – and then some.”

Last month, outgoing Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed a European Super League could soon become a reality.