Union FIFPRO of Global Football Players was not invited to a summit meeting in New York between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a group of players, sources told ESPN that after a FIFA announcement that A. Has reached “unanimous” Players about comfort and welfare.
FIFA issued a statement in the early hours of Sunday (in the United States on Saturday evening) stating that “the major issues related to the player Kalyan” were addressed and an agreement was reached on the compulsory rest period.
However, sources have told ESPN that FIFPRO, which represents 66,000 players worldwide, and the UK -based professional Footballors Association (PFA) was not in attendance in the meeting and had no role in any discussion.
FIFPRO has urged FIFA to play a more active role than player unions, when stabilizing the stability calendar, especially staging the opening of the 32-Team Club World Cup in the US in this summer.
FIFPRO president Sergio Marchi condemned the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, which also stated in a strongly stated reprimand that the players were forced to play “under unacceptable circumstances”.
And in a statement issued to ESPN on Sunday, Marchi, who decided to return to Argentina instead of participating in the Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris St.-Germen against the claims of a FIFA agreement, stated that FIFA is putting the “dangerous disconnect” with the players.
“While recently the Club World Cup created enthusiasm among many fans and allowed some of the world’s major figures to be viewed in the same tournament, FIFPRO could not fail to indicate completely with clarity, that the competition hides a dangerous disconnect with the real reality experienced by most footballers around the world,” said Marchi.
“What was presented as a global festival of football was nothing more than a legend made by FIFA, promoted by the President, dialogue, sensitivity and honor for those who maintain the game with their daily efforts.”
FIFPRO A group of Europe and European League A legal complaint filed In June 2024, with the European Union, FIFA accused FIFA of misusing its major position in football and violating the European competition law by expanding the international match calendar without proper consultation. A decision has not yet been reached.
Sources have said that the meeting with Infantino included the player representatives in the meeting, whose organizations have been expelled from FIFPRO or who have lost their place in FIFPRO after a democratic process.
ESPN has been told that senior players consider Representative FIFA’s statement “deeply faulty” and that no compromise is legally binding.
ESPN has approached FIFA for response.
