FIFA Enforces Player Welfare Rules Amid Rising Tensions with FIFPro

Tensions between FIFA and FIFPRO have escalated amid disputes over player welfare and governance transparency. FIFA has announced multiple new measures aimed at protecting players’ physical and mental health, including mandatory rest periods, travel considerations, and enhanced support for women's football, emphasizing these reforms as concrete and actionable. However, FIFA accuses FIFPRO of prioritizing public confrontations and media battles over constructive dialogue, challenging the union to disclose its financial records and statutes to prove its own transparency. FIFPRO, representing 66,000 players, maintains that FIFA operates autocratically under President Gianni Infantino and continues to ignore players’ basic needs, with many players feeling powerless to speak out due to fear of backlash. Despite the acrimony, FIFA has extended an invitation for FIFPRO to return to the negotiating table to work together for the betterment of players. The dispute highlights a deep divide within global football governance over how best to protect players and ensure accountability.