Sport

FIFPRO Left Out of Key Player Welfare Summit—What This Means for Football!

2025-07-14

Author: Arjun

In an unexpected twist, global football players' union FIFPRO was notably absent from a critical summit in New York, led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. During the meeting, FIFA announced a supposed "consensus" on player welfare and mandatory rest periods, but without FIFPRO's input, the legitimacy of these agreements is in question.

Sources reveal that FIFPRO, which represents a staggering 66,000 players globally, along with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) from the UK, were not included in this essential discussion. Such exclusion has sparked outrage among player advocates.

FIFPRO's President, Sergio Marchi, did not hold back in his critique of FIFA, especially regarding the upcoming Club World Cup set to take place in the U.S. this summer. In a pointed statement, he highlighted the unacceptable conditions players are expected to endure, describing FIFA's approach as dangerously disconnected from the realities faced by most footballers.

Refusing to attend the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in protest, Marchi reinforced his concerns. He called out FIFA's portrayal of the event as a grand celebration of football, labeling it a mere "fiction" that lacks genuine dialogue or respect for the players who are integral to the game.

Further complicating matters, FIFPRO Europe, alongside various European leagues, has filed a legal complaint with the European Union, arguing that FIFA is abusing its power by expanding the international match calendar without proper consultations—a move contravening European competition law. The outcome of this legal battle remains pending.

Reports also indicate that some player representatives at Infantino's summit belonged to national unions expelled from FIFPRO or had lost their positions in the union through democratic processes, casting further doubt on the integrity of the meeting.

As the controversy unfolds, many player representatives view FIFA's latest statements as "deeply flawed," with the agreements reached deemed non-binding. While FIFA claims progress has been made, the absence of a key players' union raises significant questions about who truly holds power in directing the future of football.

ESPN has reached out to FIFA for comment on this escalating situation.