Europe’s leagues and Fifpro blame Fifa of ‘abusive and anti-competitive’ acts.
FIFA has been blamed of abusing its dominance by players’ union, European football leagues, and Spain’s LaLiga who have jointly lodged a complaint against football’s governing with European Union antitrust regulators.
The triumvirate is especially asking the regulators to look into an overly congested international match schedule which has become a topic of debate for pundits and fans alike.
FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues, and LaLiga have raised questions over the increasing demands placed on players due to an ever-expanding footballing calendar.
Many top clubs in Europe have already raised alarms about the effects of player fatigue, injury risks, and mental health strains of a demanding schedule even though players are compensated with substantial salaries.
Martin Odegaard, Harvey Elliott, Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Lamine Yamal are some of the many names to have picked up knocks while on national duty during the ongoing season.
“The complaint highlights how FIFA’s control over the international calendar constitutes an abuse of its dominant position and violates European Union law,” the three organizations said in a joint statement.
European Leagues, which includes major football leagues like the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 (but not LaLiga), is particularly concerned about these scheduling changes.
The complaint against FIFA was deemed an exigency due to the revamped Club World Cup, which will expand from seven to 32 teams and take place over almost a month in the U.S. next year.
This expanded tournament could disrupt clubs’ pre-season tours, crucial for building global fan engagement, and add to players’ already packed schedules.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters warned, “It’s reaching a tipping point. Players are telling us there’s simply too much football.”
LaLiga president Javier Tebas also chimed in, accusing FIFA of prioritising its own monetary interests and disregarding the potential damage to the broader football ecosystem.
Responding to this, FIFA has remained firm that the international schedule was agreed upon with input from all continents, including Europe, after consultation with FIFPRO and leagues.
The organization is also expanding the World Cup to 48 nations, up from the previous 32.
