The European Leagues, representing 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs across 33 countries, plans to file a complaint with the European Commission. Their goal is to address concerns over player welfare amid the growing number of games added to the schedule.
Pressure has been mounting from various leagues and player unions, such as the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), regarding the packed international calendar and its toll on players.
A statement from Fifpro highlighted that the international match schedule is "beyond saturation," "unsustainable for national leagues," and poses a "risk to player health."
The statement criticized FIFA for prioritizing its own competitions and commercial interests, neglecting its responsibilities, and harming both the economic interests of national leagues and player welfare.
It concluded that legal action is necessary for European leagues and player unions to safeguard football's ecosystem and its workforce.
FIFA has been accused of excluding national leagues and player unions from the decision-making process and failing to develop a transparent process for the international match calendar.
The European Leagues includes prominent bodies like the English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A, and Bundesliga. Although La Liga is not a member, it is supporting the action.
FIFA recently dismissed claims from Fifpro and the World Leagues Association that they were not consulted on plans for a 32-team Club World Cup.
The expanded Club World Cup will feature Manchester City and Chelsea among the 12 European teams and will take place in the USA from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
In response, FIFA has accused some leagues of hypocrisy, pointing out that they send players on global pre-season tours despite their criticism of the current calendar.
A FIFA spokesperson argued that the current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which includes representatives from all continents, including Europe. The spokesperson also stated that FIFA's calendar is essential for the balance between international and domestic football.
FIFA claimed that some European leagues are acting in their own commercial interests, often prioritizing friendlies and summer tours over a balanced calendar.
A recent study by the CIES Football Observatory found no significant increase in the number of matches played per season by clubs from 2012 to 2024. However, the European Leagues' legal action is the second such move against FIFA in two months.
The PFA, along with the French and Italian players' unions and supported by Fifpro's European office, has also filed a claim in Brussels focusing on employment law issues, FIFA’s management of the calendar, and conflicts with players' employment rights.
Maheta Molango, chief executive of the PFA and Fifpro board member, expressed in May that players are at a breaking point and may strike if overworked conditions persist.
The expanded Club World Cup has led to the rescheduling of next year's African Cup of Nations to December 2025 and January 2026, which could also impact the Champions League knockout stages.
Molango stated, "Legal action is the unfortunate but inevitable consequence of being ignored. The current approach to the fixture calendar is unsustainable, and the pressure on players has to stop before it breaks them."
