Soccer Calendar - Player union and leagues file complaint against FIFA
In dispute over the increasingly congested Football calendar, European Leagues and the player union Fifpro have filed a complaint with the EU Commission against FIFA. This is stated in a joint communiqué. "Legal steps are the only remaining way to protect the interests of players, national leagues, and future leadership", the statement read.
The number of mandatory matches in professional football is set to increase again for the new 2024/25 season. In the UEFA Champions League, there are two additional group stage games and optionally two additional games in the knockout phase. The Club World Cup of FIFA is to be expanded into a major event in the summer. "The international calendar is now overloaded and unbearable for national leagues. It poses a risk to the health of players", wrote the two organizations.
FIFA dismisses allegations
The decisions of the World Body were criticized for "repeatedly prioritizing their own tournaments and commercial interests, neglecting their responsibility as a roof organization, and harming the economic interests of national leagues and the well-being of players".
The World Body dismissed the allegations decisively. "The current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which comprises representatives from all continents, including Europe, after a comprehensive and thorough consultation, in which FIFPRO and league associations participated", read a reaction. FIFA must, unlike "some leagues in Europe", uphold the overall interests. This includes "the protection of players, at all levels".
Club-WM instead of Confederations Cup
Already in June, Fifpro announced that they would file a lawsuit at the Brussels Trade Court. This lawsuit also targets the "decisions of FIFA regarding the unilateral determination of the international calendar", which determines the schedule for international matches and competitions.
The Club-WM planned for June 2025 in the USA is the first to feature 32 teams, including FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Previously, seven teams participated. The new tournament, scheduled every four years, replaces the Confederations Cup. FIFA dismissed the criticism of an overcrowded calendar at the time.
The complaint filed by European Leagues and FIFPro against FIFA regarding the Football calendar is strongly backed by UEFA, emphasizing the burden on national leagues and player health. The criticisms against FIFA include prioritizing their own tournaments and commercial interests over their responsibilities as a governing body. Despite these allegations, FIFA maintains that the current calendar was unanimously approved by their council, involving representatives from all continents. In response to FIFA's Club World Cup expansion plan, FIFPro has announced its intention to file a lawsuit, expressing concerns about the unilateral determination of the international calendar.
