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Keira Walsh joined Chelsea from Barcelona in January Governing bodies must "listen to the players" about the congested fixture schedule, says England midfielder Keira Walsh after Arsenal defender Katie Reid was ruled out for season with a knee injury. Reid, 19, tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in training last week. She is the seventh player, including England forward Michelle Agyemang, to suffer an ACL injury since the start of the Women's Super League (WSL) season. "Maybe sometimes we do play too many games in a congested fixture schedule. There's not enough recovery time, " said Chelsea's Walsh. "You can do the research, but ultimately you need to listen to the ones going through it and how we can best find the solutions. " Arsenal, who won the Champions League last season, played 58 matches in all competitions - compared to 52 the previous season. Alessia Russo and Beth Mead played a further six games as England won Euro 2025 in Switzerland. Research suggests female players are two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than males. "Sometimes as players you do worry about it, " said Walsh. "It's a difficult one. You still want to play those games. You still want to play week in, week out and on the big occasions. "But sometimes people higher up do need to listen to what we're saying as players. " WSL Football organises fixtures in the WSL, Uefa is responsible for the Women's Champions League and European Championships, and Fifa oversees the World Cup. Fixture congestion is also an issue in men's football. Manchester City midfielder Rodri said last September - shortly before suffering a season-ending ACL injury - that players were close to going on strike in protest. Later that month Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber described the schedule as "dangerous" and said it was a "big topic" in the dressing room. Why do so many female footballers get ACL injuries? Built different: Why women athletes suffer ACL injuries more than males Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Which football laws would you change? Former PL referee Foy answers your questions Reinventing Football - what do we do with handball, penalties and VAR? Spain 'surprise' at Lamine Yamal groin procedure Mark Bonnar can't trust anyone in this twist-filled thriller How can young people thrive without leaning on family wealth? The engrossing biopic of a Hollywood icon's early years Inside one of history's most notorious broadcasts Why Rybakina refused photo with WTA chief Archer Piastri's penalty and Hamilton's future - F1 Q&A In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week Hoardings, showers & pink dressing rooms - the 'creative' ways clubs get an edge The final frontier: Why has Root never made a century down under? Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week? Can you name every player dismissed by Flintoff in an Ashes Test? 'Man City make ominous statement in brutal lesson for Liverpool' 'Champion's weekend from flawless Norris but Verstappen shines brightest' 'It can't go on' - how Liverpool's tactics helped brilliant Doku run riot Are Celtic & Rangers starting to click in pursuit of Hearts? Why Fin Smith is England's number one fly-half Valuable lessons and tough losses - world number one Sabalenka's 2025 'Scotland looked immortality in the eye and said not today' Watched by 132, 418 fans - but will Rugby League Ashes stay? Hayes on her feminist dad, anxiety and feeling like a grandparent to players Baffling? Distracting? The fallout from Earps' book 'Australia not a bunch of old-timers - they're an outstanding team' Modified court and one serve each - Sabalenka v Kyrgios divides opinion Sitting Down With Mary Earps - the full interview. Video Sitting Down With Mary Earps - the full interview Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.