In a bold move, the players union FIFPRO has taken legal action against FIFA, the world football’s governing body. This legal claim comes after FIFA refused to reconsider the scheduling of their 32-team Club World Cup despite threats of legal action from FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association.
The legal claim was submitted by the England’s Professional Footballers’ Association and France’s players union, both of which are members of FIFPRO. This claim challenges the decisions made by FIFA to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and to create and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The player unions argue that FIFA’s decisions violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and may potentially breach EU competition law.
FIFPRO, along with the World Leagues Association, expressed their concerns about the expanded competition in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. They pointed out that the global football calendar is already “beyond saturation,” causing difficulties for national leagues to organize their competitions properly. They also emphasized the risks of player overexertion and the increased potential for injuries.
In response to the criticism from FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association, FIFA denied the allegations that it had made unilateral decisions to favor its own competitions in the international calendar. This rejection from FIFA further fueled the determination of player unions to challenge FIFA’s decisions through legal means.
Overall, the legal claim filed by FIFPRO against FIFA marks a significant step in the ongoing battle between players and the governing body of world football. The outcome of this legal action could have far-reaching implications for the way FIFA conducts its operations and interacts with player unions in the future. Only time will tell how this conflict between FIFPRO and FIFA will unfold, but one thing is clear – the players are not backing down in their fight for their rights and fair treatment within the world of football.