FIFPro and the European Leagues, representing more than 30 football clubs across Europe, previously initiated legal proceedings against FIFA.
Their legal challenge is primarily aimed at the recent expansions of FIFA’s tournaments, particularly the FIFA Club World Cup and the World Cup itself.
From 2025, the FIFA Club World Cup will expand to 32 teams, and the World Cup will grow to 46 teams by 2026.
These changes, according to the complaint, not only violate European Union competition law but also jeopardize player welfare and accuse FIFA of “abusive” and “unjustified” actions.
At the heart of the issue is the increasingly congested football calendar. The complaint emphasizes that these expansions ignore the fundamental needs of the players, whose bodies are being pushed beyond their limits.
FIFPro Europe president, David Terrier, strongly criticized FIFA’s approach, stating, “FIFA refuses to listen and engage with the players, the main labour resource of our industry, who are there on the pitch, creating a powerhouse of European and global entertainment culture, and pushing their bodies to the limit.”
He stressed the toll this constant expansion is having on players’ health, noting that FIFPro has consistently received feedback from players expressing their concerns about the overwhelming workload. “Ahead of the worst season ever for workload, many have also decided to talk in public with the same message: enough is enough,” Terrier added.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters echoed these concerns, highlighting the imbalance caused by the relentless increase in international competitions. “It is getting to a tipping point,” Masters said, noting that while the Premier League’s structure has remained relatively stable, the relentless rise in international and regional tournaments has created a strain on players. “The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion,” he continued.
Players are beginning to speak out publicly. Manchester City’s Rodri, for instance, warned that footballers were nearing the point of strike due to the physical and mental demands placed on them by the congested schedule.
Tragically, Rodri’s own season was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. His call for action has been echoed by La Liga players like Jules Koundé and Dani Carvajal, with Carvajal also suffering an ACL injury, prematurely ending his season.
These injuries further highlight the strain players are under and intensify the calls for reform in the football calendar.
The growing chorus of players and industry voices, along with the legal battle initiated by FIFPro and the European Leagues, reflects an urgent demand for balance between the commercial interests of football and the well-being of the players who fuel the sport’s global success.
