Football-Leagues escalate dispute over Club-WM
During the UEFA European Football Championship, some stars complained about too many games during the season. The Club World Cup, which is scheduled to take place next year, is therefore a thorn in the eye for the unions. They are taking their protest against the World Football Association FIFA to the next level.
The dispute between the Football Club World Cup between the Leagues and Professional Representations with the World Football Association FIFA is escalating further. The European Leagues, in which the German Football League (DFL) is also represented, and the player union FIFPRO have announced that they will file a complaint with the EU Commission and have thus provoked a sharp reaction from FIFA.
The complainants, including the Spanish La Liga, which has withdrawn from the European Leagues, accuse FIFA of a breach of EU competition law and misuse of its market position. The EU Commission has already been informed of the intended complaint.
In their statement, the representatives of the Leagues and Players criticize FIFA for having developed a "clear, transparent, and fair procedure for the international match calendar" up to now and for having "regrettably always refused" to include them in their decision-making process. The calendar is "overloaded," unbearable for the Leagues, and a "risk for the health of the players." FIFA is acting out of "bare self-interest," and the legal route is the only way to protect football, they say.
FIFA suspects "deception"
The World Association reacted in writing that its council had unanimously approved the calendar - and this after a comprehensive consultation process in which the League Federations and FIFPRO were involved. The calendar alone guarantees the "survival" of international football.
In their statement, FIFA accused their opponents of "deception" and "commercial self-interest without regard for all others in the world." The Leagues "apparently prefer a calendar full of friendly matches and summer tours, which are often associated with extensive journeys around the globe," it says in the statement.
The background to the dispute is the expansion of the Club World Cup to 32 teams, with the premiere of the new format in 2025 in the USA. The World Association of Leagues, to which the DFL also belongs, had already threatened the FIFA with a lawsuit. The player unions affiliated with FIFPRO from France and England have already filed a lawsuit at the Brussels Trade Court.
The Club World Cup expansion to 32 teams in 2025, scheduled by FIFA, is a point of contention for the European Leagues and player unions. They believe this expansion breaches EU competition law and misuses FIFA's market position, leading them to file a complaint with the EU Commission.
In response to the complaint, FIFA suspects "deception" and "commercial self-interest" from their opponents, claiming that these leagues prefer a calendar filled with friendly matches and summer tours, which they argue could harm international football.
