The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) of England has taken legal action against FIFA’s plans for a Club World Cup, citing concerns over player burnout. The decision to launch legal proceedings was made after the PFA, which represents Premier League players and others, stated that they were not consulted or engaged in discussions about the tournament.
According to the PFA, the proposed Club World Cup would significantly impact the football calendar and hinder players’ ability to take meaningful breaks between seasons. The legal action has been initiated in the Belgian court system and is supported by other European players’ unions. The PFA and its counterparts are calling on FIFA to abandon its plans for the 32-team competition, which is scheduled to take place in June and July of 2025.
In addition, FIFPRO (the global players’ union) and the World Leagues Association have also sent a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, urging the governing body to reconsider its plans. The letter emphasized that FIFA’s decision to add more games to an already congested schedule is “inherently abusive” to players.
The current Club World Cup, which is held annually with only seven participating teams, will be replaced by the new tournament, which is set to take place every four years. The revamped competition will feature 12 teams from Europe, with a three-team group stage followed by four additional matches leading up to the final.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters recently expressed his dissatisfaction with FIFA’s lack of consultation over the competition, especially in light of UEFA’s decision to expand the Champions League and add more matches. Masters stated that players have voiced their concerns about the excessive amount of football being played and the lack of time for rest and recovery.
If all the proposed competitions were to take place, some Premier League players could potentially be required to participate in over 85 matches per year for both club and country. This congested fixture list has prompted calls for FIFA to implement a mandatory 28-day off-season break, which has yet to be granted.
In response to the criticism, FIFA has stated that the Club World Cup is aimed at growing the game globally and has the support of the European Club Association, with whom it has a commercial partnership. Despite reports that Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated the club would “refuse” to participate in the tournament, the Spanish giants have recently confirmed their commitment to the competition.