The global soccer governing body FIFA is under fire from both the world players’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Association, which includes major leagues like the Premier League.
Their grievance stems from FIFA’s plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of the upcoming season.
According to them, the football calendar is stretched beyond capacity, leading to difficulties in organizing national leagues and subjecting players to excessive strain, risking injuries and compromising their well-being.
Reports from December revealed that the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) was seeking legal counsel due to insufficient consultation regarding the increasingly packed schedule and its potential impact on players.
PFA’s chief executive Maheta Molango has been involved in high-level discussions, echoing concerns raised at events like the European Leagues general assembly, where Premier League CEO Richard Masters warned of a tipping point in the calendar’s strain.
The upcoming season will see all three European club competitions expanding to accommodate 36 teams, with more matches added to the Champions League and Europa League phases.
This expansion could require clubs to play up to 17 matches to clinch victory in either tournament. Notably, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the European teams slated for participation in the expanded Club World Cup set for June and July in the United States next year.
In a letter directed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom, both Fifpro and the World Leagues Association argue that if FIFA extends its own competitions, it should adjust others accordingly.
They assert that shifting the burden of adaptation onto national leagues and players is inherently unfair and poses a threat to the integrity of national leagues, as well as the health and welfare of players.
However, FIFA maintains that it has considered player welfare in its scheduling decisions.
