Premier League and PFA to sue FIFA over calendar

The Premier League and the Professional Footballers' Association are suing FIFA alongside other European domestic leagues and unions over what they allege is abuse of a dominant position.

Football's world governing body is accused of taking "unilateral decisions" on the international match calendar which is now "beyond saturation" in a joint complaint to the European Commission by umbrella bodies European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe.

The leagues and unions say FIFA's conduct has "harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players" and argue FIFA's role as a regulator and competition organiser is a conflict of interest.

FIFA has been accused of a failure to consult over recent changes to the calendar, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.

"The international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players," a joint statement from the leagues and unions read.

"FIFA's decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.

"National leagues and player unions, which represent the interests of all clubs and all players at the national level, and regulate labour relations through collectively agreed solutions, cannot accept that global regulations are decided unilaterally.

"Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce from FIFA's unilateral decisions."

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