FIFA Launches Task Force on Player Welfare

FIFA has announced the formation of a task force led by Arsène Wenger to address player welfare, amidst increasing legal pressure and a formal complaint to the European Commission from union and league officials regarding the congested game calendar. The task force will include representatives from FIFPRO, clubs, domestic leagues, and national federations, aiming to analyze and implement effective measures to protect players' physical and mental well-being. This initiative follows criticisms of FIFA's expansion of men's competitions, which have heightened demands on elite players, prompting some to consider striking. FIFA's statement emphasized that the task force will base its recommendations on scientific research concerning players' well-being. The new panel's discussions come as part of FIFA's broader commitment to improving player welfare, which includes existing partnerships with the World Health Organization. The task force is expected to convene in the coming weeks to begin its work.