Top European football leagues and the global players’ union, FIFPro, have announced plans to sue FIFA over what they call an “abuse of dominance” in the sport. The European Leagues, representing 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, are filing a complaint with the European Commission to safeguard player welfare.
This legal move comes amid growing pressure from leagues and player unions, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), regarding the crowded football calendar and its impact on players.
In a statement, FIFPro criticized FIFA’s international schedule, calling it “beyond saturation,” “unsustainable for national leagues,” and a “risk for the health of players.” FIFPro accused FIFA of prioritizing its competitions and commercial interests over its governance responsibilities, harming national leagues’ economic interests and players’ welfare.
“Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem, and its workforce,” FIFPro stated, accusing FIFA of consistently excluding national leagues and player unions from the decision-making process concerning the international match calendar.
The European Leagues, including the English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, are part of this legal action. While La Liga is not a member of the European Leagues, it has joined the lawsuit.
In May, FIFA dismissed claims from FIFPro and the World Leagues Association regarding insufficient consultation over the 32-team Club World Cup plans.
FIFA’s Response
FIFA has labeled the lawsuit as hypocritical, highlighting how some leagues send players on global pre-season tours. A FIFA spokesperson defended the current calendar, stating it was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, with input from all continents, including Europe, FIFPro, and league bodies.
“FIFA’s calendar ensures international football can survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson accused some European leagues of acting in commercial self-interest and hypocrisy, preferring a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours that require extensive global travel. “FIFA must protect the overall interests of world football, including player protection at all levels,” they added.
A study by the CIES Football Observatory, a research group at the International Centre for Sports Studies, found no significant increase in the number of matches per season. Between 2012 and 2024, clubs averaged just over 40 fixtures per season, with about 5% playing 60 or more games.
Another Legal Battle
The European Leagues’ lawsuit marks the second legal action against FIFA in two months. The PFA, alongside the French and Italian players’ unions, has filed a claim in the Brussels court of commerce, supported by FIFPro’s European office. This case focuses on employment law issues, the calendar’s management, new competitions, and potential clashes with player employment rights.
“FIFA holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser,” said FIFPro, highlighting the inherent conflict of interest.
PFA’s Stance
Maheta Molango, CEO of the PFA and FIFPro board member, warned in May that players were at their breaking point and could strike if the workload continues to increase.
Due to the expanded Club World Cup, the African Cup of Nations has been moved from summer to December 2025 and January 2026, likely impacting that season’s Champions League knockout stages.
“Legal action is the unfortunate but inevitable consequence of major stakeholders within the game – the leagues and the players – being ignored,” said Molango. “It’s not tenable to argue that this approach to the fixture calendar is working. Players are expected to bend, but eventually, they will break. It has to stop.”
Analysis – A United Front
This legal action represents a united front between leagues and unions. The unions and leagues, including the Premier League, have decided to pursue this legal battle, marking a significant moment in football governance.
The threat of legal action has been circulating in football circles for over a year. Now, with a united front, led by the Professional Footballers’ Association, they are moving forward.
FIFA’s response accuses some clubs of hypocrisy by taking players on global tours while also stating that FIFPro is consulted over the calendar. However, the complainants are determined to pursue both cases if a resolution outside the courts isn’t reached. Unions and leagues seek change from FIFA and are prepared to see this through to the end.
Credit: BBC Sport
