European football leagues and player unions have filed a formal legal complaint with the European Commission, challenging FIFA’s competition law.
The European soccer leagues and player unions formally announced their intention to file a complaint with the European Commission regarding FIFA’s practice of adding competitions to an already congested fixture schedule.
This legal action follows warnings issued in May by European
Leagues and FIFPRO Europe, expressing concerns about the inherently abusive
decision-making process, particularly in relation to the expansion of the men’s
World Cup and Club World Cup.
Furthermore, it aligns with a European Court of Justice
ruling in December, which determined that FIFA and UEFA misused their dominant
positions as regulators and competition organizers in a case initiated by
renowned clubs attempting to establish a breakaway Super League in 2021.
“Regretfully, FIFA has consistently refused to include
national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process,” European
Leagues and FIFPRO Europe said in a statement.
Soccer’s world body hit back suggesting some leagues in
Europe were “acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without
consideration to everyone else in the world.”
The European Commission, headquartered in Brussels, serves
as the executive body of the 27-member European Union. It possesses the
authority to address and intervene in instances where alleged violations of
competition law occur.
“FIFA’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly
favored its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its
responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of
national leagues and the welfare of players,” European Leagues and FIFPRO
Europe said.
“The international match calendar is now beyond saturation
and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of
players.”
FIFA is responsible for managing the international game and
tournament calendar, which specifies when clubs must release players who have
been called up for national team duty.
Top-tier leagues, which suspend their weekend schedules to
accommodate national team fixtures, have consistently asserted that they were
not adequately consulted on the most recent version, which extends through
2030.
“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,” the governing body said.
The complaint to Brussels, joined by Spain’s La Liga, will
claim “FIFA’s conduct infringes EU competition law and notably constitutes an
abuse of dominance,” their statement said.
“This creates a conflict of interest, which, consistent with
recent case law of the EU courts, requires FIFA to exercise its regulatory
functions in a way that is transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and
proportionate.”
The Inaugural editions of FIFA’s restructured men’s
tournaments will be held in the United States.
The men’s 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded format,
increasing the number of participating teams from 32 to 48 and the total number
of matches from 64 to 104. Players whose teams advance to the semifinals will
participate in eight games over a tournament spanning approximately six weeks
across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The United States will also host a revamped Club World Cup
next June-July, featuring 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, such as Real
Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich, competing in a maximum of seven
matches.
Furthermore, the UEFA Champions League is expanding its
roster and increasing the number of matches, with 36 teams participating in a
new format, each playing at least eight times. This adjustment will result in a
greater demand for midweek fixtures from domestic and cup organizers.
FIFA noted that European leagues' member clubs frequently embark on offseason tours that entail substantial international travel.
In contrast, FIFA emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the overarching interests of global football, which includes protecting players at all levels of the sport, regardless of their location.