Won't Somebody Think of the Players (Or The Fans)?
FIFA faces legal showdown as Premier League, PFA, and other "European football stakeholders" sue over "unsustainable" match calendar and disregard for player welfare.
FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues to file joint complaint with European Commission against FIFA over match calendar
The complaint will explain FIFA’s conduct infringes European Union competition law
Legal action is only remaining route to protect player welfare, national leagues and future governance
The Premier League and Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) are leading a group of European leagues and players' unions in a lawsuit against FIFA. They allege that FIFA's decisions regarding the international match calendar have been unilateral, prioritizing FIFA's own interests over player welfare and the economic interests of national leagues.
The leagues and unions argue that the match calendar is oversaturated, unsustainable, and detrimental to player health. They also criticize FIFA for failing to consult with them on major changes, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.
FIFA, in response, has defended its decisions, stating that the current calendar was approved unanimously and following extensive consultation. They also accuse some European leagues of hypocrisy, prioritizing commercial interests with summer tours while criticizing FIFA's decisions.
The FIFPRO and European Leagues statement in full:
Following decisions by their respective executive bodies, European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe will jointly file a formal complaint to the European Commission on competition law grounds against FIFA regarding the international match calendar.
For several years, the leagues and player unions have repeatedly urged FIFA to develop a clear, transparent, and fair process regarding the international match calendar. The latest formal request was sent ahead of the FIFA Congress and Council in May 2024. Regretfully, FIFA has consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process.
The international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players. FIFA’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.
National leagues and player unions, which represent the interests of all clubs and all players at the national level, and regulate labour relations through collectively agreed solutions, cannot accept that global regulations are decided unilaterally.
Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce from FIFA’s unilateral decisions.
The complaint will explain that FIFA’s conduct infringes EU competition law and notably constitutes an abuse of dominance: FIFA holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser. This creates a conflict of interest, which, consistent with recent case law of the EU courts, requires FIFA to exercise its regulatory functions in a way that is transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate. FIFA’s conduct in respect of the international match calendar falls well short of these requirements.
This complaint, that will be formally filed by European Leagues, LaLiga, and FIFPRO Europe will run in parallel to separate actions initiated by individual leagues and player unions at national level. The English, French and Italian player unions brought an action with the Brussels commercial court in June.
European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe have already informed the European Commission of their decision and look forward to working closely with the Commission, relevant public institutions and football stakeholders throughout the investigation process.
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