European leagues, players’ union lash out at Fifa’s calendar ‘abuse’
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Fifa will start negotiations with the sport’s stakeholders on the transfer system after the European Union ruled that some of its aspects were unlawful.
PHOTO: AFP
BRUSSELS – A players’ union, the European Leagues and La Liga accused Fifa of “abuse” on Oct 14, as they filed a joint complaint about the world governing body’s international match schedule to European Union antitrust regulators.
Elite leagues are concerned at the impact of an expanding calendar on well-being, with some players struggling from fatigue, injuries and the mental toll even though they are often compensated with enormous salaries.
“The complaint explains how Fifa’s imposition of decisions on the international calendar is an abuse of dominance and violates European Union law,” complainants Fifpro Europe, European Leagues and La Liga said in a statement.
European Leagues is an association that includes the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.
A bone of contention is the Club World Cup, which expanded from seven to 32 teams in 2025.
“It is getting to a tipping point. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said.
Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas accused Fifa of “acting solely in its own interest, without considering the damage to the entire football ecosystem”.
France captain Kylian Mbappe, in a video aired at the three bodies’ news conference, said: “When it’s too much, it’s too much.”
Fifa, however, argues that the international football calendar was approved by representatives of all continents after consultation with Fifpro and leagues.
Fifa is also starting negotiations with their stakeholders on ways to revamp the transfer system after the EU ruled that some of its aspects were unlawful.
“In the coming days, Fifa will formally invite stakeholders to comment on and propose ideas in relation to article 17 of the RSTP (“Consequences of terminating a contract without just cause”) with a view to consolidating the proposals and identifying the best way forward,” Fifa said on Oct 14.
Fifa’s regulations on the status and transfer of players (RSTP) say a player who terminates a contract before its term “without just cause” is liable to pay compensation to the club, and where the player joins a new club they will be jointly liable for payment of compensation.
The Court of Justice of the European Union, ruling on a case linked to former France player Lassana Diarra, stated on Oct 4 that these dispositions were unlawful.
“The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club,” the Luxembourg-based court said. REUTERS
