The leagues and the players’ union will lodge an official complaint with FIFA. The federation is endangering players’ health and promoting its own interests, FIFPRO says

The players’ organisation FIFPRO and the associations of the European leagues will officially complain to the International Football Federation FIFA. This is because of the way FIFA adds competitions to the crowded fixture lists. The FIFPRO organisation made the announcement in a statement.

• The players’ organisation FIFPRO and the associations of the European leagues will complain to FIFA
• This is due to the way FIFA adds competitions to overcrowded match schedules
• FIFA, according to FIFPRO, is damaging the health of players and prioritising its own competitions and commercial interests

An overly crowded calendar of football events. Many have complained about this fact of modern-day football before – players are more often injured, and the players’ organisation complains that the federation has repeatedly prioritised its own competitions and commercial interests with its decisions in recent years.

According to FIFPRO, it has neglected its duties as a governing body and harmed the economic interests of the national leagues and the welfare of the players.

The leagues and players’ unions said they could no longer tolerate global regulations being decided unilaterally. FIFPRO’s complaint explains that the federation’s actions violate EU competition law and abuse its dominant position.

In addition, the players’ association had already filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice last month on similar grounds. Specifically, this concerned the World Club Championship. This is because next year, for the first time, it is to be held in an expanded format or, rather, with 32 teams.

Club World Cup last straw, FIFA threatens players’ health

The International Football Federation is damaging the health of players and violating the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to the players’ association. The Club World Cup is due to take place in 2025 and although there is no World Cup or EURO on the agenda, it would once again give the players an extended season.

“Following a decision by their executive bodies, the European leagues and FIFPRO Europe will jointly lodge a formal complaint with the European Commission against FIFA over the international match calendar on the grounds of breach of competition law.

The leagues and the players’ associations have repeatedly called on FIFA for several years to establish a clear, transparent and fair process regarding the calendar of international matches. Thelast formal request was sent before the FIFA Congress and Council in May 2024. Unfortunately, FIFA has consistently refused to involve the national leagues and players’ unions in its decision-making process,” reads an official FIFPRO statement.

Source: FIFPRO, AP News