LaLiga president Javier Tebas, Pro League CEO Lorin Parys, Fifpro Europe president David Terrier, EPL director of international football relations and EU affairs Mathieu Moreuil, Niso executive president Kristoffer Vatshaug, and AIC president Umberto Calcagno gathered for a press conference where the European Leagues, Fifpro Europe, and LaLiga lodged a complaint against Fifa's international match calendar with EU antitrust regulators. — Reuters
On Monday, a players' union, the European leagues' group, and Spain's LaLiga jointly accused Fifa of 'abuse' as they filed a complaint about the governing body's international match schedule to European Union antitrust regulators. Elite clubs are increasingly worried about the impact of an expanding football calendar on players' wellbeing, with some struggling from fatigue, injuries, and mental strain despite their substantial salaries.
'The complaint outlines how Fifa's unilateral decisions on the international calendar constitute an abuse of dominance and breach European Union law,' stated complainants Fifpro Europe, European Leagues, and LaLiga in a joint statement. European Leagues, an association that includes the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 but not LaLiga, has a particular issue with the revamped Club World Cup, which will see an increase from seven to 32 clubs and take place in the US for nearly a month next year. This expansion could disrupt clubs' pre-season tours aimed at expanding their global fan bases.
'It's reaching a critical point. The feedback from players indicates that there's too much football being played and constant expansion,' said Premier League CEO Richard Masters in the complainants' statement. LaLiga president Javier Tebas accused Fifa of 'acting solely in its own interest, without considering the harm to the entire football ecosystem.'
French captain Kylian Mbappe, in a video aired at the news conference, simply said, 'When it's too much, it's too much.' Fifa, however, maintains that the international calendar was approved by representatives from all continents, including Europe, after consulting with Fifpro and leagues. In addition to the expanded Club World Cup, the next World Cup will also be expanded to 48 nations from 32.
Earlier on Monday, Fifa announced it would begin negotiations with football stakeholders on the transfer system following the EU's ruling that parts of it were unlawful. Fifa regulations state that a player who terminates a contract before its term 'without just cause' is liable to pay compensation to the club, and the new club will be jointly liable for payment. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), ruling on a case involving former France player Lassana Diarra, declared these provisions unlawful on October 4, likely prompting a significant overhaul.
