FIFA is facing new resistance over expanding the Club World Cup, just over a year before the tournament is scheduled to be held in the United States.
Global players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association want the event to be rescheduled and the international fixture calendar to be reformed due to concerns about players’ welfare and their “fundamental rights”.
It comes after a union report last year stated that 43% of World Cup players surveyed experienced “extreme or increased mental fatigue”.
In a letter obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday, FIFA, the governing body of world football, was accused of taking players “beyond their limits, with significant risks of injury”, by expanding its competitions.
The new version of the Club World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 15th to July 13th next year.
WHAT’S NEW?
A 32-team World Cup for clubs could be FIFA’s response to the dominance of the Champions League and English Premier League as one of the world’s most popular and lucrative sporting competitions.
The new tournament will be held every four years during the off-season of most major leagues and between the World Cup and European Championships.
The format will emulate the men’s and women’s World Cups, with eight groups of four. Two teams advance from each group, leading to the knockout stage from the round of 16 to the final.
RETURN
A new expanded competition has raised concerns about the demands on players in an increasingly congested fixture calendar, which will include an expanded 48-team World Cup from 2026.
Plans to hold it in 2025 mean three consecutive years of major competitions during the usual off-season, as the European Championship and Copa América will be held this summer and the next World Cup will be in 2026.
FIFA previously said the dates would be “harmoniously aligned with the international fixture calendar” to ensure sufficient rest for players before the start of domestic leagues.
FIFPRO has become increasingly concerned about the physical and mental health of players in the face of growing demands.
Last season, Manchester United and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes made 70 appearances for club and country, including a run of 20 consecutive games as a result of the Qatar World Cup held midway through the campaign.
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri played in 10 different competitions.
There have been claims that such demands could lead to burnout, injuries and premature career curtailment.
REQUIREMENTS
FIFPRO and WLA demand that the international calendar, controlled by FIFA, be “changed immediately”.
In addition to rescheduling the Club World Cup, they want to reopen discussions on player release periods from 2024-30 and review the “Intercontinental Cup”, which is actually a replacement for the old short-format Club World Cup , held at the end. Of the year.
The letter warns that legal action against FIFA could be considered if the governing body fails to comply.
“Leagues and players cannot simply be expected to ‘adapt’ to FIFA’s decisions, which are driven by FIFA’s business strategy. We have reached the point where this situation must be immediately addressed, both from a procedural and substantive point of view,” the letter states.
Concerns are unlikely to be alleviated if UEFA, European football’s governing body, changes the format of the Champions League from next season, with two additional games. The European Championship has also been expanded in recent years.
ANOTHER REACTION
Europe’s top clubs have expressed their approval for the expansion of the Club World Cup.
The European Club Association said it was “fantastic news for club football in general”.
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James Robson is in https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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