The professional footballers’ unions of England (PFA) and France (UNFP) sued FIFA in Brussels on Thursday, challenging the global body’s “unilaterally set” timetable, specifically its new Club global Cup in 2025.
Players’ unions have warned that the expanded Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States in June and July of next year, will throw an unreasonable additional strain on the players.
The global professional footballers union FIFPRO said in a statement that the organisations “believe that these decisions violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights while also potentially violating EU competition law”.
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FIFPRO, UNFP, and PFA have urged the Brussels Commercial Court to bring the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union by submitting “four questions for a preliminary ruling”.
“Players and their unions have consistently highlighted the current football calendar as overloaded and unworkable,” the unions stated in a statement.
In early May, FIFPRO and the World Association of Football Leagues threatened FIFA with legal action.
The players’ representatives accuse FIFA of “continuing a programme of competition expansion despite the opposition of player unions,” citing the Club World Cup’s expansion from seven to 32 teams.
“The most in-demand players are now part of an endless schedule of games and competitions for club and country, with their limits constantly being pushed through expansion and the creation of new competitions,” said PFA general manager Maheta Molango.
The two unions argue that FIFA may have violated European workers’ ability to “collectively bargain over their terms and conditions of employment” as well as their right to “healthy friendly working conditions,” as guaranteed by European law.
They also point to the ECJ’s decision in the Super League case from last December as proof that FIFA is “unilateral and discretionary” in its competition law restrictions.
FIFA has not responded, but sources close to the governing organisation say the international fixture calendar was approved by its ruling Council, which includes representatives from all continental confederations, including UEFA.
They also maintain that the calendar was the result of thorough consultation and refute any claims that it was imposed on the football community.