EU court set to hear European leagues, players’ schedule complain

Europe’s top leagues and players’ unions have taken matters into their own hands and filed a complaint against FIFA at the European Commission.

The reason behind this is that players are made to play an excessive number of games which could damage their welfare, even extensive strikes by the stars could be in the cards.

“A first complaint was filed before the Brussels High Court. Another is being prepared by European leagues (Bundesliga, Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League, but not the French LFP) and certain players’ unions,” David Terrier (president of FIFPro Europe) told AFP.

“It has to be launched on October 14 before the European Commission.”

French players union (UNFP) and England (PFA) complained to FIFA, over the ridiculous match calendar and the decision to create a new 32-team Club World Cup.

The second complaint to the European Commission focuses on the subject of the various European leagues involving the addition of international competitions harming the core of the domestic championships.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri voiced out that leading footballers could go on strike if clubs refuse to stand up against the schedule.

This means there will be an expanded 36-team Champions League tournament where clubs play eight league fixtures, with 16 teams to play in an extra two-legged play-off round for a place in the last 16.

Moreover, City will also compete in an expanded Club World Cup, which means they will play as many as 75 games this season, with international players set even heavier loads.

Rodri’s comments reached Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson’s ears, as he also shared his support of football administrators siding with fans and not with players in terms of planning the games.

The key highlight was FIFA had already called out European leagues for their “commercial hypocrisy”.