Premier League joins legal action against FIFA over congested international football calendar
The Premier League will join legal action against FIFA for congesting the international football calendar and risking the health of players.
The European Leagues organisation and FIFPRO Europe are to file a joint complaint to the European Commission in relation to law breaches.
It comes after FIFA announced plans to launch a revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June and July 2025 consisting of 32 clubs.
The tournament will replace the old format of six teams from six federations which was played mid-season.
A statement from the European Leagues read: “Following decisions by their respective executive bodies, European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe will jointly file a formal complaint to the European Commission on competition law grounds against FIFA regarding the international match calendar.
“For several years, the leagues and player unions have repeatedly urged FIFA to develop a clear, transparent, and fair process regarding the international match calendar. The latest formal request was sent ahead of the FIFA Congress and Council in May 2024. Regretfully, FIFA has consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process.
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“The international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players. FIFA’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.
“National leagues and player unions, which represent the interests of all clubs and all players at the national level, and regulate labour relations through collectively agreed solutions, cannot accept that global regulations are decided unilaterally.”
The statement continued: "Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce from FIFA’s unilateral decisions.
"The complaint will explain that FIFA’s conduct infringes EU competition law and notably constitutes an abuse of dominance: FIFA holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser. This creates a conflict of interest, which, consistent with recent case law of the EU courts, requires FIFA to exercise its regulatory functions in a way that is transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate. FIFA’s conduct in respect of the international match calendar falls well short of these requirements.
"This complaint, that will be formally filed by European Leagues, LaLiga, and FIFPRO Europe will run in parallel to separate actions initiated by individual leagues and player unions at national level. The English, French and Italian player unions brought an action with the Brussels commercial court in June.
"European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe have already informed the European Commission of their decision and look forward to working closely with the Commission, relevant public institutions and football stakeholders throughout the investigation process."
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The introduction of the new World Club Cup format has raised concerns about the scheduling particularly after a gruelling campaign packed with domestic, continental and International games.
Football unions are worried by the increased workload being placed on players and the introduction of more international matches into the calendar.
However, FIFA say it has consulted senior figures across football and that the new men’s 32-team Club World Cup is replacing the old Confederations Cup slot every four years.
Two additional matchday’s inserted into next season’s new-look Champions League will add further upheaval on players, many of whom will have seen their summer break trimmed due to Euro 2024 exploits.
In response, A FIFA statement read: “The current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which is composed of representatives from all continents, including Europe, following a comprehensive and inclusive consultation, which included FIFPRO and league bodies.
“FIFA’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.
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“Some leagues in Europe - themselves competition organisers and regulators - are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world. Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel.
“By contrast, FIFA must protect the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players, everywhere and at all levels of the game.”