The volleyball community in Europe is seething. After the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) imposed strict dates for "mandatory rest" for national team players after the World Championships — until October 6 for women and until October 20 for men — the tension between the federation and the clubs came to the surface.
The authoritativeVolleyball.itreacted with open criticism, and editor-in-chief Luca Muzzioli accused FIVB of "managerial deafness and double standards."

And while the Italians fully complied with the instructions and launched their SuperLega precisely on October 20, in other countries — including Germany, Poland, Japan, and Bulgaria — some of the national team players were already on the court in club tournaments before the expiry of the prohibited period.
Formal violation or not — the fact is that bureaucracy once again clashes with the reality of the competitive rhythm, and FIVB remains under fire for a rule that many describe as unworkable and illogical.

🏐 "Unacceptable" – the Italian reaction

In his commentary, Muzzioli describes FIVB's decision as "unacceptable" and "punitive for fans and sponsors."
Italy was among the few countries that strictly adhered to the imposed rest restriction for athletes after the World Championships – three weeks for men and four for women.
That is why the SuperLega Credem Banca 2025/26 championship began on Monday, October 20, exactly according to the FIVB calendar.

The journalist also highlights another telling fact – that the national team players themselves, after a short break of just one week, insisted on returning to the gym to resume their training with their clubs.
The reason is simple and understandable – the desire not to lose athletic form, but also the economic reality: the main part of their income comes from club teams, not from the three-month participations with national selections during the summer.
Thus, FIVB's argument for "athlete protection" sounds increasingly hollow and detached from reality.

Muzzioli notes that the same athletes who supposedly needed to be "protected" had already played international tournaments and friendly matches in various countries long before the fixed deadlines expired.
According to him, this exposes the federation to "managerial absurdity" and "double standards," as some countries adhered to the rules while others did not.

🇧🇬 The Bulgarian context

A similar situation is observed in Bulgaria. Bulgarian national team players participated in club tournaments in Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria even before the officially permitted date for the start of the club season (October 20 for men).
Thus, our representatives, albeit unintentionally, found themselves in the same regulatory vacuum that caused the dissatisfaction of Italian journalists.
There are no official sanctions, but the case raises questions about the consistent application of rules by FIVB.

📊 The public despite bureaucracy

Italy showed excellent attendance already in the first round – nearly 3000 spectators on average per match, even though the start was on a weekday. This only confirms how much greater the interest would be with a normal Sunday calendar.

⚖️ Double standard and an inevitable question

"Will there be sanctions? Did FIVB know?" asks Muzzioli in his article.
So far – there are no official reactions from the international federation, but the feeling of double standards remains.
While disciplined federations lose audience due to bureaucratic precision, others – without consequences – act at their discretion.
Thus, global volleyball once again faces the problem that has haunted it for years – the lack of a unified and predictable logic in calendar management.

🧩 Conclusion

The case raised by the Italian media affects not only Italy but also all of Europe.
It shows how difficult it is to implement a unified calendar when volleyball simultaneously thrives on national championships and international interests.
Or, as Muzzioli concludes:

"Do we really want to protect the athletes – or just protect Volleyball World's marketing space?"