FIFPRO, European Leagues, and La Liga have filed a complaint to the European Commission explaining that the format of the FIFA Club World Cup infringes European competition law.
In the official statement, it says that FIFA has made decisions unilaterally without consulting with the coaches, players, and clubs. FIFA is planning to organize a 32-team competition next summer and this is unacceptable according to the clubs, and federation leaders.
Javier Tebas, president of La Liga says that FIFA is acting on its own, damaging national interest and damaging national leagues, and that according to him results in damage of the football ecosystem.
“Player unions and leagues are clearly aligned in protecting national competitions and their players, who are increasingly exposed to the negative impact of a congested schedule.”
Also, the CEOs of the Premier League, Serie A, Eredivisie, SPFL, Pro League, FIFPro Europe, and Norway among the others expressed their official complaints about this problem.
Richard Masters the CEO of the Premier League also expressed his concern about the topic: “It is getting to a tipping point. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion. The Premier League hasn’t changed shape. What has changed over the last few decades is the march of international and regional football competitions.”
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Meanwhile, the CEO of Serie A accused both FIFA and UEFA of playing a dirty game and said that Serie A never added any game in the last 20 years.
Luigi De Siervo: “Serie A, like almost all other European Leagues, in the last 20 years hasn’t increased the number of games. On the contrary, FIFA and UEFA, cycle after cycle, have increased constantly the size of their competitions for both clubs and national teams and we have now reached a saturation point in the calendar. The problem of the overloaded calendar is not caused by league competitions, but by FIFA, with its new format and duration of the tournaments, and by UEFA with the Nations League and the new UEFA club competitions with the increased number of dates and games.”
So there is quite a case and this complaint reflects on how this case will continue. According to Reuters: The European Commission, which acts as the competition enforcer for the 27-country bloc, can order companies to stop anti-competitive practices and also fine them.
This is what the federations require from the European Commission: protection and security and above all a calendar that keeps the players away from the injuries.
It is generally true that the teams and the players are overloaded by UEFA and FIFA and now the federations seek protection.
How this could end?
If European Commission finds FIFA guilty and proves the accusations then FIFA is obliged to suspend the decision of a World Cup with 32 teams. Nevertheless, if they argue their decision then a tribunal court would be the place to solve the problem once and for all. As it stands the decision for a 32-member FIFA Club World Cup remains in power until a clear official statement is released by FIFA.
This was a significant push by the clubs and the federation which have taken this matter really seriously.
Nice explanation.
I like it whenever people come together and share opinions.
Great website, keep it up!