PFA Teams Up with FIFPRO for Legal Action Against FIFA Amid Strike Turmoil

The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) has announced its intention to take legal action against FIFA, citing concerns about fixture congestion that is impacting players’ workloads.

On Tuesday, Manchester City midfielder Rodri expressed that players are nearing a point where they might consider striking due to the intensified demands of their schedules. Last season, Rodri participated in a staggering 63 matches for both club and country, and this year’s schedule looks even more daunting with the expanded Champions League and the redesigned Club World Cup.

PFA president Maheta Molango informed ESPN that the union is actively pursuing legal avenues to address these issues. “As unions, we are already taking legal action to challenge this, and players are now openly talking about what options are available to them to force change,” Molango stated. “They want to be listened to, and those who run the game must now sit up and take notice.”

Molango emphasized that the situation needs urgent attention. “The impact of fixture congestion and increasing player workload is no longer a problem that’s coming down the line,” she said. “It’s already here. This is the year when we can look at the calendar and say clearly ‘this doesn’t work.’”

She continued, “Players see that, and they are now experiencing it. They’re making their feelings increasingly clear, but, as I’ve said before, this is no longer just a player problem — this is a problem for everyone in football.”

The situation may lead top international players in the Champions League and Club World Cup to play as many as 85 matches this season. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has already voiced his concerns regarding the grueling schedule. “If those who rule football, who make the decisions, don’t come to the conclusion that the players get so many injuries because they play too much, then we do have a problem,” he remarked. “What I ask is to start thinking about reducing the number of games in order to have more attractive competitions.”

David Aganzo, president of the Spanish Players’ Union (AFE), has expressed his support for the players considering a strike as a last resort. “Rodri is an important player in Spain and England,” Aganzo mentioned in an interview with Diario As. “He is thinking about the footballers. I am on his side. His words are very clear. If we have no other choice, we will have to go on strike. We have tried to do everything possible to dialogue with FIFA and UEFA.”

He further criticized UEFA’s alterations to the calendar that resulted in more matches, questioning the lack of response from stakeholders. “UEFA has completely changed the calendar, and they have put in more matches and nobody has said anything. Surprising.”

Similarly, Manchester City star Erling Haaland highlighted the toll that the increasing number of fixtures has on players. “I think we all saw in the Euros how tired people were,” he noted. “You could see it in the level of play, even in people’s faces how fatigued they were from football. It’s difficult to stay sharp if you play over 70 games a year.”

LaLiga president Javier Tebas echoed the sentiments shared by others regarding the pressing need for change. “It is time to say enough is enough,” he stated during the 2024 World Football Summit. “The arrival of the revamped Club World Cup, which is set to start in June 2025, has further burdened the calendar. Now we are only talking about four more Champions League matches.”

Tebas voiced his support for the strike that Rodri is discussing, framing it as not just a health concern for approximately 70 players, but an issue that affects the balance of the football industry overall. “In the end, what FIFA is looking for, above all, is that the domestic leagues with 20 clubs reduce their competitions. We are not going to accept that. Reducing a national league has a cascading effect, impacting other divisions as well. Everyone thinks that for the industry to thrive, we need more competitions with more matches.”