Players are treated like puppets, says Kroos

Germany international midfielder, Toni Kroos has accused FIFA and UEFA of treating footballers like “puppets” by creating new tournaments at club and international level.

Kroos will this week represent Germany in the Nations League, a competition formed two years ago with the aim of replacing friendly matches. The Club World Cup has also recently been expanded and there is talk of a new European Super League being formed in the coming years.  

However, Real Madrid midfielder Kroos is completely against the idea of cramming more fixtures into an already packed schedule.  
“With the invention of all these new things we seem to be just the puppets of FIFA and UEFA,” he said.  
“These competitions are created to suck everything out of every single player physically and to suck out as much money as possible.  
“When certain things work well it is a good idea to leave them that way.”  

Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, which he hosts together with brother Felix, Kroos also took aim at fellow professionals who choreograph their goal celebrations. Referencing celebrations by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has previously sported a Spiderman mask, and Antoine Griezmann, who simulates dance moves from video game Fortnite, Kroos said: “I find it very silly.  
“Even worse is if there are any objects hidden in their socks. Aubameyang once celebrated and took out a mask. That’s where it ends with me.  
“I don’t think that’s a good role model, either. What nonsense.”