Fifpro says FIFA have reneged on schedule talks and club's 32-team roster will break players

December 19 - Global players' union Fifpro has criticized FIFA's plan to launch a 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, saying it could have "serious consequences" for players.

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Expansion of the current format was supposed to start in 2021 in China but was wiped out by the Covid pandemic

The current competition has just seven clubs and is made up of the top flight winners from each confederation. But Gianni Infantino announced after the FIFA Council meeting on Friday that the expansion would end up being the club equivalent of the World Cup.

Fifpro says trying to fit it into the already crowded schedule is a big mistake "which could have serious consequences and increase the pressure on players' welfare and employment."

He also accused FIFA of reneging on a consulting agreement.

“Despite an agreement reached by Fifpro with FIFA last week that a joint negotiation of the International Match Calendar (IMC) would take place before the FIFA Congress in March 2023, these decisions were made unilaterally without consultation serious, and even less in agreement, with the players, ”says a press release from Fifpro.

“Once again, decisions to extend competitions without putting in place the proper safeguards are short-sighted and pay no attention to the health and performance of players.

"This decision shows once again that the main stakeholders in football are not sufficiently involved in decision-making concerning football, even when it concerns the core of their fundamental rights."

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