The two (European Leagues, which include the English Premier League and Swedish Elite Soccer) organizations write on their websites that the complaint will be submitted with reference to “competition law grounds”.
“For several years, the leagues and the players’ union have repeatedly called on Fifa to develop a clear, transparent and fair process regarding the international match calendar,” they write, and later add:
“Unfortunately, Fifa has constantly refused to include the national leagues and the players’ union in its decision-making processes”.
Fifa strikes back
In the press release, where they believe that Fifa’s decisions in recent years have benefited Fifa’s own competitions and commercial interests and therefore damaged the national leagues’ finances and the players’ welfare, they write that the leagues and the players’ unions “cannot accept that global regulations (on, among other things, working conditions) not decided via joint negotiations”.
“Legal action is now the only responsible step for the European leagues and the players’ union to defend football and its ecosystem”.
Fifa has in a statement on X replied that the match calendar was unanimously approved by Fifa’s board.
“And includes representatives from all continents, including Europe, and the decision came after a thorough consultation, which included Fifpro and the leagues,” they write, and later add:
“Some leagues in Europe act with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy and without caring about the rest of the world. These leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tournaments, which often include extensive international travel”.