Barcelona president Joan Laporta raged at FIFA for failing to keep the game’s biggest clubs in mind after Raphinha was ruled out for five weeks during the international break.
Raphinha, 29, injured his right hamstring during Brazil’s 2-1 friendly loss to France in Massachusetts last week.
He will miss the upcoming Champions League quarterfinal with Atlético Madrid, a potential semifinal against either Arsenal or Sporting Clube and a string of LaLiga games as Barça compete with Real Madrid for the title.
“It’s infuriating that one of your best players gets injured in a friendly between France and Brazil,” Laporta told Món Esport.
“You can’t leave the responsibility of playing or not with the player, because they’re professionals who give everything for their country, but FIFA have to come up with a calendar that has the biggest club competitions in mind.
“We’re playing for our lives at this point of the season. It’s shocking, but it’s an age-old discussion now.”
It is the third time this season Raphinha, who could return for the league Clásico against Madrid on May 10, has injured the same hamstring.
He missed 13 games for club and country between September and November and another three in February.
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His absence could provide a chance for Marcus Rashford to stake his case for a permanent move to Barça.
The England international’s longest spells in the side this season have come when Raphinha has been sidelined.
He is the most likely option to take the Brazilian’s place in the team when Barça travel to Atlético in La Liga this weekend, although Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and João Cancelo could also play there.
Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances for Barça this season, with the club having until June 15 to make a decision on whether to activate the €30 million clause to make the loan permanent this summer.
Elsewhere, Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde are both back in training, providing Barça some relief in defence, while Frenkie de Jong is also not too far away from a comeback.
That leave Andreas Christensen, along with Raphinha, as the only long-term absentee as Hansi Flick’s side prepare for the final stretch of the campaign.
