FIFPRO President David Terrier has sharply criticized Chelsea for their decision to omit Cole Palmer from their UEFA Conference League squad, calling the move “crazy.”

Chelsea recently announced their squad for the Conference League group stage, where they will compete against Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers.

Notably missing from the list was Cole Palmer, the only Chelsea men’s player nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The club chose to rest Palmer, along with Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, due to concerns over their workload.

With Chelsea’s season potentially extending into July 2025 because of the new Club World Cup, the club felt it was best to manage the players’ schedules. They still have the option to register Palmer for the knockout stages.

However, Terrier, the head of the global players’ union, FIFPRO, condemned the decision, describing it as “crazy” and reflective of the increasing strain on professional footballers.

“It’s unbelievable,” he told The Sun. “I don’t understand why Chelsea would leave out one of their best players for this tournament.

“It’s crazy. But football is becoming more absurd every day, whether it’s the packed calendar, the transfer system, or the heavy workload on players.”