FIFA has issued a strong and scathing statement against FIFPro, the global union representing football players, accusing it of “grandstanding,” “blackmail,” and a lack of financial transparency. The governing body condemned what it described as a pattern of “personal and disrespectful attacks” from FIFPro, suggesting that the union’s leadership prioritizes politics over the actual needs of players.
Relations between FIFA and FIFPro have worsened in recent months, largely due to disputes over the increasingly crowded football calendar and ongoing concerns about player health and rest periods.
“FIFPro has opted for public confrontation through PR theatrics, which serve more to protect personal interests than the wellbeing of players,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “Players deserve better. The football world deserves better.”
FIFA held a recent meeting to address concerns around player workload, resulting in the implementation of a minimum three-week off-season break and a mandatory 72-hour rest period between matches. However, sources indicate that FIFPro representatives were not invited to the discussions.
FIFA argued that these new regulations go beyond what FIFPro has demanded and accused the union of responding with hostility instead of appreciation. “Rather than acknowledging these unprecedented changes, FIFPro responded with further personal attacks, revealing a troubling set of priorities,” said the spokesperson.
FIFA further claimed that FIFPro’s leadership is more concerned with internal political gains and public image than the welfare of the players they represent. They accused the union of refusing to engage in meaningful dialogue, instead opting for dramatic public statements that generate headlines but little progress.
The dispute escalated following FIFPro General Secretary Alex Phillips’ claims that players fear retribution from clubs and federations if they speak out. FIFPro has labeled FIFA’s governance under President Gianni Infantino as increasingly autocratic and disconnected from players’ needs.
In a joint statement from 58 player unions gathered in Amsterdam, FIFPro criticized the recent Club World Cup, which it said was held under dangerously extreme conditions, pointing to broader concerns over human rights and player safety.
Players have voiced alarm about the growing number of matches, especially with the expansion of the Club World Cup. Chelsea’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain on July 13 occurred just 35 days before the start of the Premier League season, highlighting the lack of rest time.
FIFPro President Sergio Marchi previously accused FIFA of valuing revenue over player health, comparing its approach to the Roman Empire’s use of “bread and circuses” to distract the public. He warned against repeating matches in extreme heat during next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA, in turn, pointed to its recent initiatives such as the introduction of five substitutions and concussion protocols as proof of its commitment to player welfare—efforts it said were more impactful than any actions by FIFPro.
“These are not empty promises,” the FIFA spokesperson stated. “They’re real steps forward.”
FIFA also challenged FIFPro to demonstrate the same transparency it demands from others. The governing body urged the union to publish its statutes, financial records, and disclose how it uses intellectual property related to the players it claims to represent.
“You cannot call for transparency while operating behind closed doors,” FIFA asserted. “We remain committed to meaningful reforms that place players at the center of football’s future. We invite all true player representatives to join us in open, solution-driven dialogue.”
However, FIFA said it will only resume negotiations with FIFPro once the union retracts its complaints, stops what it called “blackmail,” and publicly releases its financial and governance documents.
