The professional footballers’ unions of England (PFA) and France (UNFP) have taken legal action against FIFA in Brussels, challenging the new timetable for the expanded Club World Cup scheduled for 2025. The unions argue that the tournament, set to take place in the United States in June and July next year, places an undue burden on players.
According to FIFPRO, the global professional footballers’ union, the decisions made by FIFA violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and may also breach EU competition law. With FIFPRO’s support, the UNFP and PFA have requested the Brussels Commercial Court to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union, posing “four questions for a preliminary ruling.”
The unions have consistently criticized the current football calendar as overloaded and unmanageable. In early May, FIFPRO and the World Association of Football Leagues threatened FIFA with legal action over the expansion of the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams, despite opposition from player unions.
“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 unions argue that FIFA’s actions violate European workers’ rights to collectively bargain over their terms and conditions of employment and to work in healthy conditions. They also reference the European Court of Justice’s ruling in the Super League case last December as evidence of FIFA’s restriction of competition law in a “unilateral and discretionary” manner.
FIFA has not commented on the lawsuit but maintains that the international match calendar was approved by its ruling Council, which includes representatives from all continental confederations, including UEFA. FIFA insists that the calendar was the result of extensive consultation and rejects any claims that it was imposed on the football community.