FIFA says it has an agreement with soccer players' unions for minimum rest standards
Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (29) makes a pass to the front of the net past Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin (13) during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to the media at a welcoming event for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, April 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, file)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
From left, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois and Aurelien Tchouameni react after a goal by Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (29) makes a pass to the front of the net past Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin (13) during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to the media at a welcoming event for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, April 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, file)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
FIFA says players' representatives and the sport's governing body have reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should enjoy a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season.
The discussions took place on the eve of the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea. The tournament was held during the European offseason and has faced criticism from unions, as an increased focus on player welfare has been leading to calls for mandatory rest periods and a greater emphasis on player safety during matches.
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Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Last month, France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the competition, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other officials from soccer's governing body met with representatives of players' unions from around the world in New York. FIFA hailed the discussions as 'progressive,' adding that players' health is a 'top priority.'
'There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period / holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,' FIFA said. 'This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.'
Enforcing a 72-hour period strictly could mean big adjustments to some game schedules and TV deals. FIFA didn't indicate how it would work in practice. European teams playing in the Europa League late Thursday evening routinely play domestic league games on the following Sunday. With a strict 72-hour break, they might have to wait until Monday to play again.
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That would be a major headache for the German Bundesliga. It abolished Monday evening games in 2021 after years of protests by fans who wanted easier-to-attend weekend kickoffs. When it introduced the unpopular Monday kickoffs four season earlier, the German league argued it would mean more rest for Europa League teams.
The new Bundesliga TV deal starting next season doesn't include any Monday games, either.
FIFA added that a rest day per week should also be allowed and that travel demands as well as climate conditions will also factor into future competition planning.
The Club World Cup involving 32 of the world's top teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament should be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games.
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James Ellingworth in Düsseldorf, Germany, contributed to this story.
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