David Wheeler, a former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder and one of football's most outspoken environmentalists, believes climate change is increasingly affecting the game, saying it is “becoming much more apparent to players and an increasingly important topic of conversation.”
Wheeler, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Sustainability Champion, believes the sport has a responsibility to do more.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think the major governing bodies and organizations currently take this responsibility seriously,” he says.
“These organizations do not deserve to profit from sports if they are not going to use their power to improve the sport.”
Wheeler also wants to see players use their platform more to speak out on environmental issues.
“It could have a huge impact,” he said. “But it is also important that clubs and supporters groups isolate players as well because there will inevitably be a backlash that they are being hypocrites.
“Most of us are hypocrites to some extent. We're not perfect, and that's okay as long as we try to do the best we can.”
One player who has not shied away from using his platform to advocate for environmental issues is Real Betis defender Hector Bellerin.
Speaking after he was named World Champion At the recent BBC Green Sport Awards, he said promoting sustainability in a sport increasingly driven by global expansion was not easy.
“It’s tough,” he said, referring to the 2026 World Cup. “I don’t make decisions and I understand very well how the industry works. But I'm not going to stop doing what I love because of decisions made at the top.”
“As players, we often feel like we are treated like numbers or marketable commodities. There are more games, more trips, more challenging conditions. And they just tell us to drink water,” added the former Arsenal player.
“Unless footballers around the world come together – whether it's stopping or making bold decisions – the wheel will continue to turn,” he said.
