What's happened
On October 14, 2024, European leagues and the global players' union FIFPro filed a complaint against FIFA, accusing it of anti-competitive practices regarding the international match calendar. They argue that FIFA's expansion of competitions, including the Club World Cup, jeopardizes player health and domestic leagues.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Nick Ames in The Guardian, La Liga president Javier Tebas described the day as 'one of the most important days in football,' emphasizing the need for change in governance. Meanwhile, Lawrence Ostlere from The Independent highlighted the players' frustrations, noting Kevin De Bruyne's comments on the unsustainable schedule. The Premier League's Mathieu Moreuil stated, 'Legal action is the only option,' reflecting a collective sentiment among leagues and players. The Independent also pointed out FIFA's defense, claiming the calendar was approved after comprehensive consultations, yet FIFPro argues this was insufficient.
How we got here
The complaint arises from growing concerns over FIFA's unilateral decisions impacting player welfare and domestic competitions. The expanded 2026 World Cup and the new Club World Cup have intensified these worries, prompting legal action.
More on these topics
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FIFA is a non-profit organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It is the highest governing body of football.
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The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels, generally referred to as FIFPro, is the worldwide representative organisation for 65,000 professional footballers.
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Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino is a Swiss–Italian football administrator and the current president of FIFA. He was elected President of FIFA during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016.
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Lassana Diarra is a French former professional footballer. His predominant position was as a defensive midfielder but he could also play in a more advanced role and has played at right back, which he occasionally has done for the France national football
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Alisson Ramses Becker, commonly known as Alisson, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Liverpool and the Brazil national team.
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Javier Tebas Medrano is a Spanish lawyer and the president of Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, the association responsible for administering Spain's two professional football leagues.
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The Premier League, often referred to as the English Premier League or the EPL outside England, is the top level of the English football league system.
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The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly known as La Liga, is the men's top professional football division of the Spanish football league system.