Latest news with #FIFPRO
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
FIFPro Highlights 'Invidious Position' Players Find Themselves In Amid Congested Calendar
Last Updated: Alex Phillips, the general secretary of FIFPro revealed that the players are rather scared to speak up on the issue due to the ramifications it could cause for their careers. The congested football calendar has courted criticism from a wide array of stakeholders as the increase in frequency of fixtures has had a direct impact on the well-being of the players, with multiple recorded cases of injuries due to over-exertion. Alex Phillips, the general secretary of FIFPro, the unit that represents the players, revealed that the players are rather scared to speak up on the issue due to the ramifications it could cause for their careers. 'Before the Club World Cup, I was speaking to some of the top stars and they were saying they hadn't had a rest for 'X' amount of time," Phillips began. 'One of them even said, 'I'll only get a rest when I get injured'. Others were resigned actually, and cynical about speaking up," he revealed. 'Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'We think the Club World Cup is great,' because their employers are telling them to do it." 'You have this contradictory situation where players can't speak up. They are in an invidious position. They can speak up but it might have consequences," Phillips explained. Multiple managers and players have voiced out against the rising number of games per season as teams need to massively increase their squad sizes to cope up with the mounting fixture list and pressure. 'It is unacceptable for an organisation that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players," FIFPro said in a statement. FIFPro Europe lodged a complaint with the European Commission last year, accusing FIFA of misusing its authority in handling the international match calendar. This week, Sergio Marchi, the Argentinian president of FIFPro, criticized Infantino's leadership of FIFA, accusing him of running an autocracy in an interview. In response, FIFA issued a statement on Friday, calling for dialogue with 'legitimate bodies that prioritize player welfare" and mentioned its unsuccessful attempts to get the union to attend its meeting in New York on July 12. 'FIFA is extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership," the world governing body said. 'This approach clearly shows that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation, which aims to preserve their own personal positions and interests," the Zurich-based organisation hit back. view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 15:18 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why players ‘fear' criticising heavy workload amid busy football schedule
Players remain fearful of speaking out about their heavy workload because of the impact it could have on their careers, a top player union official has said. FIFA has been accused of 'turning a blind eye to the basic needs of players' in a statement issued by world players' union FIFPRO on Friday, which also likened FIFA president Gianni Infantino to an 'emperor'. FIFPRO cited the scheduling of matches at the recent Club World Cup in extreme heat as an example of FIFA's 'autocratic' approach to running the game. Without the players there is ultimately no product, but despite that FIFPRO general secretary Alex Phillips believes it is difficult for individuals to make their voices heard. 'I was speaking to some of the top stars that were going to play in the Club World Cup, and they were saying that they hadn't had a rest for X amount of time,' Phillips said. 'One of them even said, 'I'll only get a rest when I get injured'. Others were resigned actually, and cynical about speaking up. 'Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'we think the Club World Cup is great' because their employers are telling them to do it. 'That's why unions do exist, partly, to be their voice, because they are in an invidious position. They can't speak. They can't say exactly what they think – well, they can do, but that may have consequences.' Phillips cited a legal complaint lodged by FIFPRO Europe and domestic leagues to the European Commission against FIFA last autumn as an example of alternatives to negotiation that the union has already taken. He insisted the possibility of a strike was 'not mentioned' when 58 of FIFPRO's member unions held talks in Amsterdam on Friday. A statement issued after that summit was scathing about FIFA, which organised a player welfare meeting without FIFPRO's involvement on the eve of the Club World Cup final earlier this month. That has been seen by the unions as an effort to divide and weaken them. 'The overloaded match calendar, the lack of adequate physical and mental recovery periods, extreme playing conditions, the absence of meaningful dialogue, and the ongoing disregard for players' social rights have regrettably become pillars of FIFA's business model; this is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game,' FIFPRO's statement on Friday said. 'There can be no legitimate spectacle built on fatigue, exclusion, and exploitation. FIFA continues to systematically ignore and silence the real issues players face in different parts of the world. It is unacceptable for an organisation that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players. 'One clear example of this disconnect was the recent Club World Cup, celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes.' FIFA replied: 'FIFA is extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership as this approach clearly shows that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation driven by artificial PR battles – which have nothing to do with protecting the welfare of professional players but rather aim to preserve their own personal positions and interests. 'The game deserves unity, not division. Players deserve action, not rhetoric. 'FIFA will move forward together with players and those who really want the best for football. It is up to FIFPRO to answer this call.'
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Players' union slams FIFA and Infantino over Club World Cup fallout
The global soccer players' union hit back at FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, saying their autocratic style of leadership was harming the rights of its members. "Football needs responsible leadership, not emperors," the FIFPRO network said after a meeting of 58 national player unions responded to FIFA pursuing its agenda with unofficial player representatives. "It needs fewer autocratic monologues and more genuine, inclusive and transparent dialogue," the union added. FIFA announced two weeks ago it reached a consensus on key issues after Infantino hosted a group of mostly non-recognised officials in New York ahead of the Club World Cup final. The latest rift between soccer's governing body and its players' unions flared while the European Commission in Brussels is considering a formal complaint against FIFA. It was filed by FIFPRO's European division and national leagues in Europe against FIFA's style of governance and decision-making. FIFA denounced what it called Friday the union leadership's "increasingly divisive and contradictory tone" in pursuing a public relations battle "to preserve their own personal positions and interests." FIFPRO said Friday its core concerns included an overloaded global match calendar with too many games for elite players, lack of physical and mental recovery periods and extreme playing conditions. Players at the month-long Club World Cup in the United States reported feeling dizzy and unwell in the heat of daytime games played to appeal to worldwide TV audiences. The 63-game tournament backed by Saudi Arabian money was lucrative for clubs, especially in Europe, though FIFA added it to the schedule without formally consulting players. The tournament, FIFPRO said, was "celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes. "FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance," the Netherlands-based union said of FIFA. "This is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game, FIFPRO said, adding it was "unacceptable for an organization that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players." FIFA responded by challenging the union to publish its statutes and "transparent annual accounts." "Let us be clear: you cannot preach transparency while operating in opacity," the world soccer body said. FIFPRO has not had a formal working agreement with FIFA since the previous one expired in 2023.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Footballers' Union chief accuses FIFA of turning a ‘blind eye to basic needs of players'
Top footballers are afraid to speak out against playing too many matches for fear of the impact it could have on their careers, the general secretary of global players' union FIFPro said on Friday. Alex Phillips was speaking after FIFPro held a meeting in Amsterdam with 58 national player unions from around the world to discuss concerns over the way the sport's world governing body, FIFA, is managing global football. The meeting came less than two weeks after the end of the first 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, a tournament hailed as a huge success by FIFA president Gianni Infantino but criticised by FIFPro for the demands it has placed on players already faced with a crowded schedule. 'Before the Club World Cup, I was speaking to some of the top stars and they were saying they hadn't had a rest for 'X' amount of time,' Phillips said. 'One of them even said, 'I'll only get a rest when I get injured'. Others were resigned, actually, and cynical about speaking up. 'Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'We think the Club World Cup is great,' because their employers are telling them to do it. 'You have this contradictory situation where players can't speak up. They are in an invidious position. They can speak up, but it might have consequences.' FIFPro said that FIFA's recent focus on the Club World Cup in the United States was an example of the body ignoring many fundamentally more important issues facing players around the world. 'It is unacceptable for an organisation that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players,' FIFPro said in a statement, notably citing the 'overloaded' match calendar, heat concerns at the Club World Cup and an 'ongoing disregard for players' social rights'. FIFPro Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission last year, accusing FIFA of abusing its position with regard to its handling of the international match calendar. The summit hosted by the union on Friday came after it was left out of a meeting held by FIFA on the eve of the recent Club World Cup final. Sergio Marchi, the Argentinian president of FIFPro, this week slammed Infantino's leadership of FIFA and accused him of running an 'autocracy' in an interview with The Athletic. FIFA hit back at FIFPro in a statement on Friday as it called for dialogue 'with legitimate bodies that put player welfare first' and said it had tried unsuccessfully to get the union to attend its meeting in New York on July 12. 'FIFA is extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership,' the Zurich-based organisation said. 'This approach clearly shows that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation,' which aims to preserve 'their own personal positions and interests.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Top footballers afraid to speak out against playing too many games: FIFPro chief
TOP footballers are afraid to speak out against playing too many matches for fear of the impact it could have on their careers, the general secretary of global players' union FIFPro said on Friday. Alex Phillips was speaking after FIFPro held a meeting in Amsterdam with 58 national player unions from around the world to discuss concerns over the way the sport's world governing body FIFA is managing global football. The meeting came less than two weeks after the end of the first 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, a tournament hailed as a huge success by FIFA president Gianni Infantino but criticised by FIFPro for the demands it has placed on players already faced with a crowded schedule. 'Before the Club World Cup, I was speaking to some of the top stars and they were saying they hadn't had a rest for 'X' amount of time,' Phillips said. 'One of them even said, 'I'll only get a rest when I get injured'. Others were resigned actually, and cynical about speaking up. 'Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'We think the Club World Cup is great,' because their employers are telling them to do it. 'You have this contradictory situation where players can't speak up. They are in an invidious position. They can speak up but it might have consequences.' FIFPro said that FIFA's recent focus on the Club World Cup in the United States was an example of the body ignoring many fundamentally more important issues facing players around the world. 'It is unacceptable for an organisation that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players,' FIFPro said in a statement, notably citing the 'overloaded' match calendar, heat concerns at the Club World Cup and an 'ongoing disregard for players' social rights'. FIFPro Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission last year accusing FIFA of abusing its position with regards to its handling of the international match calendar. The summit hosted by the union on Friday came after it was left out of a meeting held by FIFA on the eve of the recent Club World Cup final. Sergio Marchi, the Argentinian president of FIFPro, this week slammed Infantino's leadership of FIFA and accused him of running an 'autocracy' in an interview with The Athletic. FIFA hit back at FIFPro in a statement on Friday as it called for dialogue 'with legitimate bodies that put player welfare first' and said it had tried unsuccessfully to get the union to attend its meeting in New York on July 12. 'FIFA is extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership,' the Zurich-based organisation said. 'This approach clearly shows that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation,' which aims to preserve 'their own personal positions and interests.' - AFP
