European Leagues Sue FIFA Over Match Calendar

The Premier League and European leagues, alongside FIFPRO, are suing FIFA over its international match calendar, claiming it has become 'beyond saturation' and harmful to player welfare. They argue that FIFA's unilateral decisions, including the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup, have neglected the economic interests of national leagues and created a conflict of interest due to FIFA's dual role as both a regulator and competition organizer. FIFA has responded by accusing some leagues of hypocrisy, asserting that its calendar was approved through a comprehensive consultation process that included various stakeholders. The complaint will be submitted to the European Commission, asserting that FIFA's conduct violates EU competition law. The leagues and unions insist that their legal action is necessary to protect the football ecosystem and the health of players, emphasizing that FIFA has ignored their repeated calls for a transparent decision-making process regarding the match schedule.