FIFA Risks Facing Legal Action From Global Players Union, Leagues Over Packed Football Schedule
World soccer governing body FIFA has been urged to review plans of hosting a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season or face legal action from global players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association.
All three European club competitions will be expanded to 36 teams from next season. In addition to that, a 32-team FIFA Club World Cup is set to be hosted in the United States next year from June 15 to July 13. In a letter reviewed on Thursday by BBC Sport and addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) and the World Leagues Association (WLA) expressed their concern over the expanded competitions.
The letter said the global football calendar is “beyond saturation” and that national leagues are unable to properly organise their competitions, while players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks. The letter further said the burden “is inherently abusive .. (and) jeopardising national leagues and affecting the health and wellbeing of players.” FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, and FIFPRO and WLA have not answered a request for further information on their concerns.
FIFPRO and WLA are aiming to discuss their issues before the soccer body’s ruling council at the 211-member federation’s meeting on May 17 in Bangkok, Thailand. If FIFA refuses to commit to resolving the issues, FIFPRO and WLA will advise their members of their options, including taking legal action against FIFA, the BBC reported the letter as saying.Reuters reports that FIFA said on Friday it would not consider rescheduling their new 32-team Club World Cup.In response, FIFA rejected their claims that the soccer body made unilateral decisions to benefit its competitions in the international calendar.
In the letter seen by Reuters, Grafstrom stated that they have regularly engaged with relevant stakeholders on the subject of the International Match Calendar (IMC).Grafstrom said both FIFPRO and WLA were involved in discussions on the future of the calendar in 2021 and 2022.However, Grafstrom said FIFA were ready to sit down with both FIFPRO and WLA to discuss the matter further during the close season.
