As the dispute over the increasingly full international football schedule heats up, Europe’s top leagues and players’ unions will file a protest against Fifa at the European Commission.
The action was taken in response to player concerns about their safety, which even sparked rumours about celebrity players taking a strike.
“A first complaint was filed before the Brussels High Court.
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Another is being prepared by European leagues (Bundesliga, Liga, Serie A and the Premier League, but not the French LFP) and certain players’ unions,” David Terrier, president of FIFPro Europe, told AFP.
“It has to be launched on October 14 before the European Commission.”
In June, the French Players Union (UNFP) and the Professional Football Association of England (PFA) lodged a protest against FIFA regarding the FIFA-mandated unilateral calendar of international matches and the decision to increase the Club World Cup to 32 teams.
This second complaint, which is aimed at the European Commission, is about the right to competition.
The European leagues believe that the increasing number of international contests is detracting from the appeal of domestic championships.
Leading football players could go on strike, Manchester City midfielder Rodri warned earlier this week, if clubs keep facing an ever-expanding workload.
Later on Wednesday, City, the 2023 Champions League winners, will play their first game of the new league phase of the competition against Inter Milan, the Italian powerhouse.
All clubs will play eight league games in the 36-team competition, which has been enlarged.
Prior to the final 16, 16 teams will compete in an additional two-leg play-off round.
At the end of the season, City will also participate in an extended Club World Cup.
This season, City may play up to 75 games, and international players will likely have an even greater burden.
Rodri’s remarks mirrored those of Alisson, the custodian for Liverpool, who claimed that when it came to the problem of too many fixtures, football executives were ignoring the players.
The European leagues have already come under fire from FIFA for their “commercial hypocrisy”.
“Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel,” Fifa said in July.