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October 14 – FIFPRO Europe and the European Leagues association have followed through on their threat and, filed a complaint tothe European Commission against FIFA over the international match calendar.
They have been joined in the filing by Spain’s LaLiga.
The complaint maintains 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 is that FIFA has forced its international calendar on players and leagues without any meaningful agreement or discussion with them. An assertion that FIFA has denied.
The complaint focuses on decision taken over the international match calendar and in particular the planned 2026 Club World Cup which FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association have already demanded should be abandoned, but also on World Cup 2026.
FIFPRO Europe and European Leagues boards had agreed to the legal action in July.
They point to “widespread concerns raised publicly by players about the impact an unsustainable football calendar has ontheir health, wellbeing and career longevity”.
They also argue that FIFA’s expanded match calendar also threatens the economic and social sustainability and stability of important national competitions, undermining the fabric of football in Europe.
Announcing their action at a news conference earlier today in Brussels, they claimed that by refusing meaningful engagement on the calendar with players and leagues, FIFA has “used its regulatory power to promote its commercial interests at the expense of the social partners (players and leagues)”.
They say that this is an ‘abuse of dominance’ and violates European Union law, citing recent case law in the EU courts,including European Court of Justice rulings in the ‘Super League’ and ‘Diarra’ cases.
They also argue that it is “clear that given its conflict of interest FIFA must exercise its regulatory functions in a way…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/10/14/fifpro-european-leagues-file-legal-complaint-fifas-abuse-dominant-position/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-10-14 15:28:31
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