Premier League on war footing with FIFA over player welfare as legal complaint lodged

The Premier League, European Leagues and the world players' union FIFPRO will lodge a legal complaint with the European Commission on Monday accusing FIFA of abusing a dominant position over the fixture calendar.

Leagues and unions are set to lodge a legal complaint with the European Commission on Monday, accusing FIFA of abusing its dominant position over the fixture calendar. The group, which includes the Premier League through its membership of the European Leagues collective, argues that football's global governing body did not properly consult over the new calendar before it was announced in March last year.

They believe the schedule has now gone "beyond saturation". The introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup every four years is seen as the tipping point.

However, they claim the bigger issue is FIFA's general conduct around this matter, alleging it has favoured its own commercial interests, which has consequently "harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players". League sources highlight Manchester City's recent request to postpone domestic matches at the start of next season to allow more recovery time after the Club World Cup as a prime example of how this new competition will impact the schedule and quality of their own.

The Premier League can argue that it has been a 20-team competition for almost 30 years, and that fixture congestion in the club game is the result of expansion at the international level by UEFA and now FIFA.

FIFA has defended its decision to set the parameters of its own competitions, such as the Club World Cup, stating that it is fully within its rights. The football governing body announced this at its 2023 Congress in Rwanda, following extensive consultation, reports Birmingham Live.

FIFA has also accused the leagues of "hypocrisy", claiming they "prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours" like the Premier League's Summer Series, which saw Aston Villa travel to the USA for pre-season matches. FIFPRO Europe, the continental branch of the world players' union FIFPRO, is also involved in the action.

Several players have already voiced their concerns about the demanding calendar. Manchester City midfielder Rodri, for instance, stated that players were "close" to striking over the issue shortly before he suffered a season-ending injury.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has overseen the expansion of European club competitions, said on Thursday that the calendar had "reached its limit". However, he told the BBC: "Who is complaining? Those who earn the highest salaries and those teams with a squad of 25 top-level players. Those with lower salaries and hardly 11 players do not complain. They love to play."

This legal complaint submission marks the third consecutive week where a competition law case has made football headlines.

On October 4, the European Court of Justice ruled that some of FIFA's transfer regulations violated competition and freedom of movement laws in the case of former Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra. Earlier this week, the Premier League's associated party transaction (APT) rules were deemed illegal following a challenge by Manchester City.