The Premier League, alongside several top European football leagues such as Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga, is taking legal action against FIFA, Soccernet.football reports.
The European Leagues, which includes 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs across 33 countries, has filed a complaint with the European Commission. This move is aimed at addressing concerns about player welfare, and it has the backing of the global players’ union Fifpro.
The legal case argues that FIFA is abusing its power, focusing on the increasing number of matches in the football calendar and their impact on players. This comes amid rising worries from leagues and players’ unions, including the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in England and Wales.
A major point of contention is FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup, set to take place in the USA from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European teams participating in this expanded tournament.
The Premier League, along with the English Football League (EFL) and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), is part of the coalition challenging FIFA.
Fifpro has criticised FIFA’s recent decisions, saying they favour FIFA’s own competitions and commercial interests over the welfare of players and the economic interests of national leagues. Fifpro argues that global regulations should not be decided unilaterally.
In response, a FIFA spokesperson defended the current football calendar, stating it was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which includes representatives from all continents.
FIFA claims its calendar supports both international and domestic football while criticising European leagues for prioritising their own interests over global football needs.
As the 2024 Copa America and European Championships took place between mid-June and mid-July, European clubs have already begun their preseason preparations for the upcoming league season, which starts in August.