By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – Premier League boss Richard Masters hit out at FIFA’s lack of consultation with European football today by saying there was a “chasm” of difference between how they and UEFA operate.
Speaking at a press conference following the general assembly of the European Leagues, hosted by the Premier League, Masters said the proliferation of new competitions, notably FIFA’s expanded Club World Club, was making the international calendar far too congested – a frequently debated topic.
Pointing out that the European Leagues, as a body, “works very well with UEFA, with a seat on the exco”, the same could not be said of its relationship with FIFA.
“The situation with FIFA is very different, not least the decision taken recently regarding expanding the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025,” said Masters. “There is a chasm between the style of consultation with the leagues within UEFA and within FIFA – where there is none.”
Masters could be accused of conveniently forgetting that a plethora of Premier League teams regularly organise their own lucrative post-season friendly tours that also extend the calendar and take their toll on players.
But he argued: “FIFA is an association structure but leagues and players unions are relevant stakeholders so like everyone else they should be treated in the same way in terms of meaningful dialogue prior to decisions.”
The two-day European League summit in London was attended by almost all major football stakeholders including UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Fifpro Europe president David Terrier, Football Supporters Europe CEO Ronan Evain and by UEC founder and General Secretary Dennis Gudasic – but not, seemingly, by anyone from FIFA.
In a statement the European Leagues praised UEFA’s new Revenue Distribution system for the upcoming 2024-27 cycle, saying it “represents a landmark result for the European Leagues Association following a years-long campaign for a fairer revenue distribution model in UEFA Club Competitions aimed at protecting the competitive balance of domestic leagues and enhancing infrastructure and talent development.”
“The leagues were encouraged by UEFA’s continued support for the fundamental principles of openness and qualification for international club competitions via domestic competition annual performances while always respecting weekends reserved for domestic leagues.”
As far as the international calendar is concerned, the statement echoed Masters’ criticism of FIFA.
“European Leagues continued to raise concerns about the pressure placed on domestic football by the introduction of new international competitions and the dramatic growth in international matches that is overloading calendars. Members also expressed disappointment at the lack of transparency and formal consultation in the decision-making process at FIFA-level.”
“As recommended by the recent judgement of the ECJ on the Super League case, the leagues call for a more transparent, objective and non-discriminatory set of regulations to govern professional football and those important decisions – such as the calendar – which affect the whole ecosystem and heavily impact the domestic markets that provide the foundations of the whole football industry.”
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