Fifa has been warned of legal action by players and domestic leagues if it does not back down from adding new, bigger competitions to the congested men's international football calendar.
In a letter sent by the global players' union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association, seen by The Associated Press, FIFA is criticized for “unilateral decisions that benefit its own competitions and commercial interests,” including the World Cup. of the World Cup and the expanded 32-year World Cup. Club World Cup team that debuts next year.
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The letter said it is “inherently abusive” for FIFA to continue adding games while forcing players and leagues to adapt.
The letter urges FIFA to reschedule the revamped Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States in June 2025. The lineup includes Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Manchester City and Bayern Munich, among others.
That month-long tournament will test stadiums and logistics for the first 48-team, 104-game men's World Cup to be held a year later in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The unions and leagues also want FIFA to “review its decision” (in practice, rule out) the Intercontinental Cup scheduled for December involving the same continental champions who will play in the Club World Cup six months later.
Talks should also be reopened over the FIFA-managed calendar until 2030, when clubs must release players for national team matches, the unions wrote.
“FIFA has ignored repeated attempts by leagues and unions to get involved in this issue,” FIFPRO and the World Leagues said, aiming to ramp up pressure before the soccer body's governing council and congress of 211 federations members will meet next week in Bangkok, Thailand.
“If FIFA refuses to formally commit to resolving the issues, as stated above, at its next council, we will be forced to advise our members on the options available to them, both individually and collectively, to proactively safeguard their interests.” , he claimed. the letter said.
“These options include legal actions against FIFA, for which we have commissioned the advice of external experts,” warn FIFPRO and World Leagues, based in Zurich.
FIFA has been contacted for comment.
Player workloads and domestic match schedules are also being reduced by UEFA's expansion of its three seasonal club competitions.
Champions League and Europa League teams next season will play two additional guaranteed matches in an initial phase schedule that will run from September to January instead of December, using 10 midweek matches instead of six in all three competitions.
“Players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant risks of injury and impacts on their well-being and fundamental rights,” warn FIFPRO and the World Leagues, adding that the shortage of matches is harming the leagues' ability to organize properly. .
FIFA was conservatively budgeting more than $11 billion in revenue between 2023 and 2026, about a 50% increase from the previous four years, which did not include money from the inaugural Club World Cup expansion or a top sponsorship confirmed last month with Saudi Arabia's state oil company, Aramco. Increased Saudi sponsorship is expected as the kingdom hosts the 2024 men's World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has consistently said that extra money and playing opportunities are needed to raise the level of teams outside Europe and South America, which traditionally dominate the World Cup and other international events.
