The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has joined a legal action against FIFA and their plans for the international football calendar.
The PFA are co-claimants in the case, which has been placed before courts in Belgium, and they are joined by the French players’ union (UNFP) and supported by FIFPRO Europe.
The legal claim comes in the wake of unions and leagues demanding that FIFA reverse their plan to hold an an expanded Club World Cup across June and July next year.
The PFA say the scheduling of the tournament, which involves 32 teams, is a “tipping point for the football calendar” and impacts players being able to have “meaningful breaks” between seasons.
“This is an important moment for players and for their rights as employees,” said PFA CEO Maheta Molango.
“Everyone across football knows that the fixture calendar is broken to the point that it has now become unworkable.
“Players are not being listened to and they want to see action. As their union, we have a duty to intervene and to enforce their legal rights as employees. Ultimately, that time has now come.”
Those bringing the claim against FIFA have asked for the Brussels Court of Commerce to refer the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
The ECJ would be asked to provide a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of EU law as it relates to footballers’ rights under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the right of players to take an annual period of paid leave.
The ECJ would then send the case back to the court in Belgium for a final ruling, which could have a significant impact on the way the football calendar is structured.
The case is being led on behalf of the unions by Jean-Louis Dupont, a prominent and globally-recognised sports lawyer.
He was part of the team which won the ‘Bosman ruling’, the 1995 European Court of Justice ruling named after the Belgium player Jean-Marc Bosman that revolutionised the transfer market involving footballers based on their legal right to free movement.
