January 31 – In a potential breakthrough move, representatives of the world players’ union Fifpro are reported to have met with FIFA over the packed fixture calendar that has led to the threat of strike action.
The BBC says FIFA president Gianni Infantino led the FIFA delegation, the first time the two sides had met in a formal setting since a legal complaint was filed by Fifpro and others with the European Commission in October.
The complaint maintained that FIFA has a conflict of interest over its role as a competition organiser and governing body and that it is breaking European competition law.
Also at the heart of the complaint was that FIFA forced its international calendar on players and leagues without any meaningful agreement or discussion with them, specifically related to the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, which takes place in the United States this summer. An assertion that FIFA denied.
“I was pleased to welcome new Fifpro president Sergio Marchi to Zurich to discuss with him and his Fifpro colleagues the opportunity to strengthen our co-operation and create synergies for the benefit of players across the world,” Infantino was quoted as saying.
“Players are at the heart of FIFA’s considerations, and we aim to collaborate with Fifpro in a spirit of respect and mutual support. FIFA feels very strongly about the input and voice of players within our institution, and we will work closely with president Marchi and his team to protect the players and the game.”
Whether this meeting will change anything for player workload this summer is unlikely. European clubs who had planned to treat the Club World Cup as a pre-season tournament and not play their biggest names as they prepare for more important 2024/25 season competitions, have been privately told by FIFA that they must have those players on the pitch.
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