Players' unions clash with FIFA over hectic schedule

The association representing professional footballers, the global players' union FIFPRO, has warned FIFA about the extensive and damaging nature of the calendar adopted by Infantino and his cohorts at world football's governing body.

FIFA has expanded the match calendar compared to previous years in order to satisfy its insatiable economic appetite, which, according to FIFA, is based on the objective of earning more in order to distribute more, especially to less competitive associations in order to compensate for historical inequalities.

The FIFA World Cup in the United States (with 3 venues in Mexico and 2 in Canada) will feature a total of 48 teams in 16 venues, double the number of teams at the last World Cup in the country in 1994 and 16 more teams than at the last World Cup in Qatar. In terms of matches, there will be 104, up from 64 at the World Cup won by Messi and Co in the Persian Gulf.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will also make its debut next year in the United States, starting on 15 June 2025, in a 32-team format and will be played every four years, adding more teams and matches to the calendar. Until 2005, the Intercontinental Cup was played as a single match between the winners of the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League, with teams from all continents gradually added to the competition.

With the number of competitions and matches on the rise, the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO) has warned that players could take legal action if FIFA does not change its decision to add new and larger competitions to the calendar.

Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, interact following the AFC Asian Cup final. GETTY IMAGES

FIFPRO's criticism is based on the unilateral nature of FIFA's decisions, and has been echoed by the International Federation of Association Football.

The letter states that it is "inherently abusive" for FIFA to continue to add matches while forcing players and leagues to adapt, exercising a privileged dominant position that obliges the rest without consensus.

Among the measures requested, FIFA is urged to reschedule the revamped FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States in June 2025.

Among other things, they want FIFA to reconsider its decision regarding the dispute over the Intercontinental Cup, scheduled for December this year, in which the winners will logically take part, along with other teams, in the Club World Cup just six months later.

"FIFA has ignored repeated attempts by the leagues and unions to engage on this issue," said FIFPRO and the World Leagues, seeking to ratchet up the pressure ahead of the meeting of the Football Governing Council and the Congress of the 211 member associations that will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from Monday 13 to Friday 17 May 2024.

The Roma star, Paula Dybala, suffered six muscular injuries this season, all stemming from highly demanding seasons. GETTY IMAGES

"If FIFA refuses to formally commit to resolving the issues at its next Council meeting as previously stated, we will be forced to advise our members of the options available to them, both individually and collectively, to proactively protect their interests," the letter reads.

"These options include legal action against FIFA, for which we have now commissioned advice from external experts," warn the Zurich-based FIFPRO and the World Leagues.

A report last year found that 43% of 2022 World Cup players surveyed had experienced "extreme or increased mental fatigue". The specific complaint is that players are being pushed beyond their limits, which will affect their careers.

Some 53% said they had been injured or were more likely to be injured as a result of the overloaded schedule.

FIFPRO has produced a report detailing the reasons for concern about the increase in the number of games played in recent years, both in terms of the psycho-physical and mental health of professional footballers and, as a result, injuries and diminished performance.

Vinicius Jr. competes for the ball with Joshua Kimmich during the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on 08 May 2024. GETTY IMAGES

For example, the report states that Vinicius Junior has already played 18,876 minutes of club and international football, more than twice as many as former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho at the same age.

The same goes for France's Kylian Mbappé, who has played 26,952 minutes at the age of 24: 48% more than Thierry Henry at the same age, or England's Jude Bellingham, who by his 20th birthday (at the end of June) will have played 30% more competitive minutes than Wayne Rooney at the same age.

During the 2022/23 season to the end of April, almost 700 injuries were recorded in the English Premier League. Of these, around 63.7% were classified as soft tissue injuries. In December, soft tissue injuries were particularly prevalent, accounting for three out of every four injuries. Changes in the fixture schedule have led to a noticeable 'accumulation' of matches that have a physical impact on players.

UEFA appears not to have heeded the warnings and continues to put additional pressure on players and national fixtures by extending its three club competitions over three seasons.

Next season, teams in the Champions League and Europa League will play two extra guaranteed matches in an initial phase stretching from September to January, instead of the usual December. This means there will be 10 match days per week instead of six, affecting the three competitions.

Jude Bellingham during the international friendly match between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium on March 2024 in London. GETTY IMAGES

"Players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant risks of injury and impact on their well-being and fundamental rights," warn FIFPRO and the World Leagues, adding that the squeeze on matches is damaging the leagues' ability to organise themselves properly.

FIFA is expanding its business and revenues. For the period 2023-2026, it has budgeted revenues of more than $11 billion (€10 billion), around 50% more than in the previous four years, not counting revenues from the Arab oil company Aramco or the Club World Cup, nor others that may yet be added.

Gianni Infantino has always stated that the aim is to increase revenue in order to provide more and better opportunities for all, including the less developed continents, and to raise the level of teams outside Europe and South America, which have historically dominated the World Cup (12 from Europe, 10 from South America) and all international events.