European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe will officially submit a joint complaint regarding FIFA’s international match calendar to EU antitrust regulators on Monday, as announced by the professional football leagues association and the players’ union.
This action, first revealed in July, follows a recent ruling by Europe’s top court stating that FIFA’s player transfer rules violate EU laws, a decision stemming from a challenge by former French player Lassana Diarra.
The complaint highlights a trend among dissatisfied athletes and sports organizations seeking assistance from the EU antitrust authorities to promote fair competition and reduce the power of governing bodies.
The grievance from European Leagues and FIFPRO focuses on the international match calendar, which they argue has become unmanageable for national leagues and poses health risks for players, with FIFA allegedly misusing its market power.
In response, FIFA claims that the current calendar was unanimously approved by its council after extensive consultations with FIFPRO and league organizations.
The European Commission, responsible for enforcing competition laws in the 27-country bloc, has the authority to mandate the cessation of anti-competitive practices and impose fines.
