Players’ union FIFPRO, along with top European leagues, have filed an official complaint against FIFA, accusing the organisation of creating an “abusive” international match calendar.
The complaint is primarily aimed at FIFA’s decision to expand both the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA World Cup, with the Club World Cup set to grow to 32 teams in 2025 and the World Cup expanding to 48 teams in 2026.
FIFPRO argues that the extended calendar violates European Union competition laws, compromises player safety and well-being, and describes FIFA’s actions as “abusive” and “unjustified.”
In recent years, concerns over the oversaturated football schedule have become a frequent topic of discussion, with players and pundits alike raising the issue.
In total for the top five European leagues, 4,123 injuries were recorded during the 2023-24 season, costing clubs $1.19 billion, according to data published by global insurance intermediary group Howden. This was an all-time record and highlights this rather aggressive schedule that benefits no parties.
Prominent players such as Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois, and Rodri have spoken out in recent months, voicing their frustration over the demands placed on players.
In July, the boards of FIFPRO and the European Leagues, which represent clubs across more than 30 countries in Europe, decided to take legal action.
FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier had strong words on the current situation and the board’s plan of attack with this complaint.
“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 said to the media in a press conference.
“But we have listened to our players, have received the same messages for a long period of time, that they are playing too much and do not have enough time to recover. Ahead of the worst season ever for workload, many have also decided to talk in public with the same message: enough is enough.”
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also spoke briefly on this topic when asked about it earlier this month.
“It is getting to a tipping point. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion,” he said.
FIFA has yet to respond to the formal complaint, which has been lodged with the European Commission. Despite the mounting pressure, FIFA has consistently minimised concerns over player workloads, arguing that its new and expanded tournaments represent only a small fraction of the total matches played in a season.
The numbers, however, tell a different story. In the coming months, this issue is expected to play out both in court and in the media, with players intensifying pressure on FIFA. There has even been talk of potential protests or a strike during the season, a move that could severely damage football financially and as a product.
