FIFA Faces Legal Action Over ‘Abuse of Dominance’

Top European football leagues, including the Premier League, along with players' union Fifpro, have thrown a legal complaint at FIFA.

October 14, 2024
3:38 pm

So, here’s the scoop: top European leagues, including the Premier League and the players’ union Fifpro, have thrown a legal complaint at FIFA, accusing them of “abuse of dominance” under European competition law. This complaint, now with the European Commission, is all about FIFA’s tight grip on the international football calendar and their recent moves, like expanding the Club World Cup.

The European Leagues, representing 39 leagues and over 1,130 clubs, along with Fifpro’s European branch, are saying FIFA’s been a bit selfish, prioritizing its own competitions without really consulting anyone. This is messing with players’ welfare and national leagues. La Liga has jumped on the legal bandwagon too, showing just how serious this spat is.

This legal action comes on the heels of worries about player fatigue, especially after the PFA joined another lawsuit against FIFA back in June. The packed fixture schedule, including a 32-team Club World Cup set for summer 2025, is at the heart of the issue.

What’s the fuss about?

Well, the tension over FIFA’s control of the fixture calendar has been simmering for years. It hit boiling point in 2022 when FIFA announced the Club World Cup expansion, scheduling it in the summer—prime time for player rest. Clubs and players are getting fed up with FIFA’s apparent disregard for the chaos of a congested calendar.

Players like Manchester City’s Rodri have been pretty vocal about the toll it’s taking, even hinting at a potential strike over the relentless match schedule. Rodri clocked over 6,100 minutes last season and is among many warning about the physical and mental strain.

Liverpool’s Alisson Becker chimed in too, saying players often feel left out of the conversation about adding more games. He said, “Nobody asks the players what they think… everybody’s tired of that.”

The expanded Club World Cup, happening in the US from 15 June to 13 July 2025, is a major sticking point. With 12 European clubs expected to join, including some Premier League giants, there are worries the 2024-25 season will roll straight into 2025-26 with barely a breather.

FIFA’s Club World Cup is set to follow a jam-packed domestic season and international fixtures, piling on the pressure. Manchester City has already asked for delays in their matches at the start of the 2025-26 season, but it’s doubtful the Premier League will budge.

Rodri’s teammate, Manuel Akanji, even joked about retiring by 30 due to the crazy demands of the football calendar, highlighting the growing unrest among players.

FIFA is defending itself, claiming they consulted with both Fifpro and the World Leagues Forum about the 2025-30 international match calendar. They argue their expanded tournaments are within their rights and that they’re looking out for the broader interests of world football, including player protection.

In response to accusations of hypocrisy, FIFA pointed out that many leagues often arrange end-of-season friendlies or pre-season tours, which also require a lot of travel and add to player fatigue. They argue these tours are more about commercial interests than player well-being, similar to the criticism they’re facing.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has acknowledged the football calendar is packed but suggested the complaints mainly come from a handful of high-profile players. He noted that players from lower divisions or teams with smaller squads are often keen to play more matches, creating a bit of a divide in how the congested schedule is perceived.

Despite this, Ceferin stands firm that no extra matches should be added to the calendar.

What’s next?

The legal complaint is now with the European Commission, and a preliminary investigation could kick off, taking up to 12 months. If they find something worth investigating, a formal probe might follow, which could force FIFA to rethink its fixture scheduling and competition expansion.

Fifpro and the European Leagues are adamant that FIFA has dropped the ball on its regulatory duties by consistently favouring its own competitions over domestic leagues and players’ health. As this legal saga unfolds, players and clubs across Europe will be keeping a close eye, with the potential for big changes in how football’s global calendar is managed.