The number of matches in the UEFA Champions League will rise from 125 to 189 starting in the 2024-25 season.
FIFPRO Europe and the European Leagues have announced plans to file a complaint with the European Commission against FIFA regarding the congested match calendar. Their joint statement, posted on X, claims that the current international match calendar is unsustainable for national leagues and poses a risk to player health. They accuse FIFA of prioritizing its own competitions and commercial interests over its responsibilities as a governing body, which has harmed national leagues and player welfare.
The new UEFA Champions League format and the FIFA Club World Cup are expected to significantly impact players. In the updated UCL format, the number of matches will increase from 125 to 189, with each team playing a minimum of eight games instead of six, and up to 17 games.
The statement also highlights that legal action is now necessary for European leagues and player unions to protect football from FIFA’s unilateral decisions. The complaint will argue that FIFA’s actions violate EU competition law and constitute an abuse of dominance.
The expanded list of participants in the FIFA Club World Cup will further congest the fixture list for teams. The increase in match commitments, including international duties, poses serious risks to players, as evidenced by the rise in ACL injuries in both men’s and women’s football during the 2023-24 season.
The statement concludes by noting the conflict of interest inherent in FIFA’s dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organizer. According to recent EU Court case law, FIFA must conduct its regulatory functions transparently, objectively, non-discriminatorily, and proportionately. The current handling of the international match calendar falls short of these standards.
