Early on October 15, European media reported that the Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPro) and representatives of major European leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga jointly filed a lawsuit against FIFA to the Directorate General for Competition under the European Commission.
The lawsuit opposes FIFA's expansion of the World Cup, increasing the number of teams from 32 to 48, and extending the tournament by one week. In addition, FIFPro and the national championships disagree with the idea of organizing a FIFA Club World Cup with 32 teams, held every 4 years.
The Professional Footballers' Association and representatives of national leagues said FIFA had failed to consult with parties before announcing the schedule in March 2024. The lawsuit said FIFA's decision to expand the tournaments, amid signs of fatigue among players, was "discriminatory" and "discriminatory".
The tight schedule increases the risk of injury for players.
The document sent to the European Commission reads: "This complaint alleges that FIFA has abused its power, imposed decisions on the dense international match schedule, and violated the law of the European Union. FIFA must perform its functions objectively and fairly to avoid conflicts of interest. We believe that filing a complaint with the European Commission is a necessary action to protect the European football industry."
This is the first time in history that FIFPro has expressed its frustration with FIFA by filing a complaint with the European Commission. Mathieu Moreil, the Premier League's director of international relations, said: "We want a transparent process, an agreement, not just confrontation and questioning. We want a suitable schedule for players and domestic teams. There is almost no space left in the player's schedule."
English football representatives said that the players playing too much is seriously damaging their health. In that context, the World Cup (FIFA) or Nations League, Champions League (UEFA) continue to increase the number of participating teams, forcing players to play more matches.
Mr. Mathieu Moreil opposes increasing the number of teams at the 2026 World Cup.
According to the Independent (UK), FIFA earned £5.8 billion in the last 4-year World Cup cycle, from 2019 to 2022. After the World Cup held in Qatar, FIFA decided to increase the number of participating teams, increase the number of matches and match time, setting a target of £8.4 billion for the new cycle.
Under pressure from public opinion, representatives of national leagues and the European Professional Footballers' Association, President Gianni Infantino has not changed his position: "We generate revenue not only in one country, but in 211 countries around the world. No other organization can do that. Regarding the match schedule, the FIFA calendar is the only tool that ensures the continuity and sustainability of international football."
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/hiep-hoi-cau-thu-6-giai-lon-kien-fifa-lam-quyen-ar901867.html
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