France’s professional footballers’ union, the UNFP, has launched a blistering attack on FIFA, accusing the world football governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino, of endangering players’ health with an ever-expanding fixture list and the newly revamped Club World Cup.
In a strongly worded statement, the UNFP described the current schedule as a “game of massacre” that is pushing elite footballers beyond their physical and mental limits. The union pointed directly at Infantino, accusing him of overseeing an unsustainable system while remaining indifferent to its consequences.
“The incongruity of the situation escapes no one, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers,” the statement read. “From his ivory tower, which he tours around the world, the FIFA president shows no concern for the fate the international calendar reserves for top players.”
The criticism focuses particularly on the expanded Club World Cup, which now includes 32 teams and stretches across a full month, ending on July 13. Coming immediately after an already gruelling club season and major international tournaments, the union argues the competition blatantly violates collective bargaining agreements that guarantee players at least three weeks of uninterrupted rest between seasons.
Instead, players are thrown straight back into high-pressure matches, with no time for recovery. “His Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this game of massacre,” the union added, calling for an immediate halt to the current trajectory.
While FIFA has often defended its position by stating it is responsible for less than one per cent of club matches globally, and that the Club World Cup adds, at most, seven matches for just two teams every four years, the UNFP and other unions are not convinced.
The French union’s stance echoes growing global discontent. Players’ bodies, including FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, have consistently warned of the risks posed by an overcrowded calendar. Top players have raised the alarm about injury risks and the psychological toll of non-stop football, with some suggesting a strike might eventually become unavoidable.
“In September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a serious knee injury shortly after warning that players were on the verge of striking over excessive workloads,” the UNFP said, citing the injury as a direct consequence of player overload.
The situation is particularly dire for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently participating in the Club World Cup only weeks after winning the Champions League on May 31. The team’s 4-0 quarter-final victory over Inter Miami leaves them on track for more high-stakes matches, all while French domestic clubs are already resuming pre-season training ahead of the new Ligue 1 campaign in mid-August.
“We do not see how or why PSG players should be denied the three full weeks of rest they are entitled to,” the UNFP said, warning that the relentless schedule could impact the performances of French internationals when national team duties resume in early September.
As the football calendar continues to swell with new competitions and global commitments, the UNFP’s warning serves as a stark reminder that players are not limitless assets. For now, FIFA has not responded to the criticism, but the pressure from within the game is rising.
