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The head of FIFPro asserts that elite footballers are hesitant to voice their concerns regarding the excessive number of matches.

The head of FIFPro asserts that elite footballers are hesitant to voice their concerns regarding the excessive number of matches.

7 minutes ago
The FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
The trophy for the FIFA Club World Cup.JUAN MABROMATA / AFP
According to the general secretary of the global players' union FIFPro, top footballers are reluctant to express their opinions about the overwhelming number of matches due to potential repercussions on their careers, as stated on Friday.

Alex Phillips spoke following a FIFPro meeting in Amsterdam, which included representatives from 58 national player unions worldwide, to address concerns regarding FIFA’s management of global football.

This meeting occurred less than two weeks after the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised as a significant success but was criticized by FIFPro for its demands on players already burdened with a packed schedule.

"Prior to the Club World Cup, I spoke with several top players who mentioned they hadn’t had a break for 'X' amount of time," Phillips remarked.

"One player even commented, 'I will only get a break when I get injured.' Others seemed resigned and somewhat cynical about voicing their concerns..

"Then, just two weeks later, you see some of these same players recording social media messages saying 'We believe the Club World Cup is fantastic,' because they are being instructed to do so by their employers.

"This creates a contradictory situation where players feel unable to speak out. They can express their views, but it may lead to negative consequences."

FIFPro indicated that FIFA's recent emphasis on the Club World Cup in the United States exemplifies the organization’s neglect of numerous more pressing issues faced by players globally.

"It is unacceptable for an organization that claims to be a global leader to ignore the fundamental needs of players," FIFPro stated in a release, specifically mentioning the "overloaded" match schedule, concerns about heat during the Club World Cup, and an "ongoing disregard for players' social rights."

Last year, FIFPro Europe lodged a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of misusing its authority concerning the international match calendar.

The summit organized by the union on Friday followed its exclusion from a meeting held by FIFA just before the recent Club World Cup final.

Sergio Marchi, the Argentinian president of FIFPro, criticized Infantino’s leadership of FIFA this week, accusing him of operating an "autocracy" in an interview with The Athletic.

In response, FIFA issued a statement on Friday, urging for dialogue "with legitimate organizations that prioritize player welfare," asserting that it had unsuccessfully attempted to invite the union to its meeting in New York on July 12.

"FIFA expressed significant disappointment over the increasingly divisive and contradictory rhetoric from FIFPro’s leadership," the organization based in Zurich stated.

"This approach clearly indicates that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPro has opted for a path of public confrontation," which aims to preserve "their own personal positions and interests."

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