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European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe to File Antitrust Complaint Against FIFA

By  |  July 23, 2024

In a significant escalation of the ongoing dispute with FIFA, European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe announced on Tuesday their intention to file a complaint with EU antitrust regulators regarding the international match calendar. This move intensifies the confrontation with the world football’s governing body over scheduling issues that have sparked widespread controversy.

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    The forthcoming complaint to the European Commission, which serves as the EU’s competition enforcer, follows recent legal action taken by the English, French, and Italian player unions against FIFA in a Brussels commercial court. The unions argue that the current match calendar is overloaded and poses a significant risk to both the sustainability of national leagues and the health of players.

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    European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe have expressed concerns that the international match calendar has reached a point of saturation, making it unsustainable. They contend that FIFA’s scheduling decisions have favored its own competitions and commercial interests at the expense of its broader responsibilities as a governing body.

    A person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that the complaint will be officially filed in the coming weeks.

    Related: Biden Administration Supports Antitrust Suit Against FIFA

    FIFA, however, maintains that the existing calendar was approved unanimously by the FIFA Council following comprehensive consultations, which included input from FIFPRO and various league bodies. A FIFA spokesperson defended the calendar, stating, “FIFA’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.”

    In a strongly worded statement, FIFA accused some European leagues of acting with commercial self-interest and hypocrisy. “Some leagues in Europe – themselves competition organisers and regulators – are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world. Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel.”

    Source: Sport Star