The professional footballers’ unions of England and France have taken legal action against FIFA in Brussels.

They are challenging the timetable set by FIFA, particularly the new Club World Cup scheduled for 2025.

The unions argue that the expanded Club World Cup, planned to take place in the United States in June and July next year, puts an unacceptable burden on players. They claim that these decisions violate players’ rights under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and may also breach EU competition law.

In a statement, the global professional footballers union FIFPRO said, “The organisations believe that these decisions violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights while also potentially violating EU competition law.”

With FIFPRO’s support, UNFP and PFA have asked the Brussels Commercial Court to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union by presenting “four questions for a preliminary ruling.”

The unions highlighted the issue of the overloaded football calendar. “Players and their unions have consistently highlighted the current football calendar as overloaded and unworkable,” they said.

In early May, FIFPRO and the World Association of Football Leagues had already warned FIFA of potential legal action. The unions accuse FIFA of expanding the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams despite opposition from player unions.

“The most in-demand players are now part of an endless schedule of games and competitions for club and country, with their limits constantly being pushed through expansion and the creation of new competitions,” said PFA general manager Maheta Molango.

The unions also argue that FIFA might be violating European workers’ rights to “collectively bargain over their terms and conditions of employment” and to “healthy and friendly working conditions,” as guaranteed by European law. They reference the European Court of Justice’s ruling in the Super League case last December as evidence that FIFA is restricting competition law in a “unilateral and discretionary” manner.

FIFA has not commented on the lawsuit, but sources close to the organization noted that the international match calendar was approved by its ruling Council, which includes representatives from all continental confederations, including UEFA.

They also emphasized that the calendar resulted from extensive consultation and rejected any suggestion that it was imposed on the football community.