“FIFA Faces Legal Threat Over Club World Cup Expansion”

FIFA is under pressure from the international players’ union, Fifpro, and the World Leagues organization to postpone its planned expanded Club World Cup, or risk facing legal action. In a joint letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the organizations argue that the 32-team tournament, scheduled to be held in the United States next June and July, should be postponed until there is a full agreement on the international match calendar.

The letter accuses FIFA of disrupting the football industry and jeopardizing national leagues with its recent focus on developing its own competitions, including the Club World Cup and the rebranded Intercontinental Cup. It asserts that FIFA has ignored attempts by leagues and unions to engage on the issue, and calls for immediate action.

If FIFA does not announce the rescheduling of the Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup at its global congress in Bangkok, the letter warns of potential legal action. The tone of the letter is strongly critical, echoing recent comments from the Premier League’s chief executive about FIFA’s lack of consultation over proposed changes to the match calendar.

FIFA has yet to publicly respond to the letter, but it has defended the Club World Cup’s compliance with rules regarding player rest periods and argues that participation in its competitions would make up only a small portion of clubs’ schedules.

The proposed expansion of the Club World Cup is part of a broader trend of calendar expansion in men’s football, including UEFA’s plans to expand its club competitions and the growth of international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.

However, governing bodies’ ability to assert control over the calendar has been challenged by legal rulings, such as the European court of justice’s decision regarding the European Super League, which emphasized the importance of proper consultation and transparency in decision-making processes involving new tournaments.