FIFA’s recent announcement touting a breakthrough agreement on player welfare is facing sharp criticism after it emerged that FIFPRO—the global union representing 66,000 professional footballers—was not invited to the high-profile summit in New York. Despite FIFA’s claims of a “consensus” on key welfare issues, insiders say major players’ unions were left out of the conversation entirely.
FIFPRO Left Out of Key FIFA Discussions
FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with select player representatives in New York over the weekend to address concerns about workload and recovery time in the increasingly packed football calendar. The global governing body later released a statement declaring that a consensus had been reached on “mandatory rest periods” and other welfare matters.
However, sources close to the matter told ESPN that neither FIFPRO nor the UK-based Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) had any involvement in the talks. Both organizations were reportedly not invited and played no part in shaping the outcomes presented by FIFA.
Ongoing Friction Between FIFA and Players’ Unions
FIFPRO has long urged FIFA to improve communication and collaboration when introducing new tournaments or adjusting the global football schedule. Their concerns intensified following the launch of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, set to debut in the United States this summer.
In June 2024, FIFPRO Europe, along with several European leagues, filed a formal complaint with the European Union. They accused FIFA of abusing its dominant position in the sport and violating EU competition laws by unilaterally expanding the international match calendar without proper stakeholder consultation. The case is still pending a legal verdict.
Doubts Raised About Legitimacy of FIFA’s Agreements
Further undermining FIFA’s claims of consensus, sources revealed that some of the player representatives at the meeting were from unions that have either been expelled from FIFPRO or lost official recognition through democratic processes. Senior representatives within the players’ union movement described FIFA’s statement as “deeply flawed,” asserting that none of the agreements are legally binding.
These revelations have raised serious questions about the credibility and transparency of FIFA’s approach to addressing player welfare—an issue that continues to spark debate across the football world.
FIFA Yet to Respond
As of now, FIFA has not issued any clarification or response to the criticism regarding FIFPRO’s exclusion. With growing tension between football’s governing bodies and player unions, the rift over how best to manage the game’s congested schedule shows no signs of easing.
