FIFA could face legal action over congested competition calendar

(Patria) - The International Football Federation (FIFA) faces legal action that would be initiated by the International Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPro) and the World Leagues Association, if it continues with plans to hold a 32-team World Cup at the end of next season.

They are dissatisfied because the competition calendar is "now so saturated that national leagues are unable to properly organize competitions", and players are pushed "beyond their limits with significant risks of injury and impacts on their well-being", reports the BBC.

Next season, all three European club competitions will be expanded to 36 teams each.

The Champions League and Europa League will each have eight matches in the first stage of the competition, compared to six previously. It is possible that a club will have to play 17 matches to win one of these competitions.

In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström, which the BBC has seen, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association stated that if FIFA expands its competitions, it should change others.

It is added that imposing the burden of adapting national leagues and players is fundamentally offensive and endangers leagues and affects player well-being.

The BBC stated that FIFA believes it has taken player well-being into account when creating the competition calendar.

The world football governing body claims that in a country whose league has 18 clubs and one cup competition, like Germany, the World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup would only affect 2.3 percent of matches played at club level during the season.

FIFA stated that influential clubs supported the plans related to the Club World Cup in December.

FIFPro and the World Leagues Association stated in the letter that if FIFA refuses to formally commit to solving the problem, members will be informed of the available options at the Council meeting on May 17 in Bangkok. These options, the letter states, include legal proceedings against FIFA.

All 211 member associations will participate in the FIFA Council in Thailand.

Numerous European clubs, including English ones, organize pre-season and post-league tours in the USA and Australia, which will significantly increase the number of matches.