US Edition
Soccer Players’ Union Hits Back at ‘Autocratic’ FIFA and Infantino in Fallout From Club World Cup
SWITZERLAND, JUL 25 – FIFPRO Europe and European leagues filed a June 2024 legal complaint against FIFA for expanding the match calendar without player consultation, citing autocratic governance and player rights violations.
- On July 26, 2025, FIFPRO, representing 58 national player unions globally, criticized FIFA and President Gianni Infantino for their governance amid the recent Club World Cup in the U.S.
- The criticism arose because FIFA added the 63-game, Saudi-backed Club World Cup to the schedule without consulting players, while FIFPRO’s formal agreement with FIFA expired in 2023.
- FIFPRO highlighted extreme and inappropriate playing conditions at the month-long tournament, noting players felt dizzy during daytime games held to appeal to global TV audiences.
- FIFPRO stated, "Football needs responsible leadership, not emperors," accusing FIFA of systematically ignoring player issues and imposing a harmful autocratic model that risks player health.
- The European Commission is considering a legal complaint filed by FIFPRO’s European division against FIFA’s governance, signaling ongoing disputes over player rights and decision-making transparency.
38 Articles
38 Articles
At the end of the club's World Cup, the international player union FIFPro accuses FIFA of using the tournament to increase its revenue "at the expense of the players' body and health". FIFA is outraged and is now barking back loudly.
In a statement the union indicated that "football does not need emperors.""FIFPRO is requested to publish its statutes and annual financial reports," they responded from Zurich.
The global football union responded to FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino by stating Friday that its autocratic leadership style harms the rights of its affiliates. The global football union responded to FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino by saying Friday that its autocratic leadership style harms the rights of its affiliates. “Football needs responsible leaders, not emperors,” FIFPRO said after a meeting of 58 national players’ unions…
Meeting in Amsterdam on 25 July, FIFPRO, the leading union of professional players, split up a stinging press release against FIFA, criticizing its management of the world of football.
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