European Leagues and Fifpro Sue FIFA Over 'Abuse of Dominance'

European leagues, including the Premier League, along with the global players' union Fifpro, have initiated legal action against FIFA, accusing the governing body of abusing its dominance in football. The European Leagues group, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs across 33 countries, is filing a complaint with the European Commission, aiming to protect players' welfare amidst an increasingly congested match calendar.

Fifpro has criticized FIFA for repeatedly prioritizing its competitions and commercial interests over the well-being of players and national leagues. The union's statement describes the international calendar as "beyond saturation" and "unsustainable," highlighting the health risks for players.

FIFA has rejected these claims, arguing that the current calendar was approved following comprehensive consultations, including input from Fifpro and league bodies. They also accused some leagues of hypocrisy for organizing global pre-season tours, which add to players' workloads.

This legal move follows a similar case brought by the PFA and other players' unions regarding employment law and FIFA's calendar management. The conflict underscores the growing tension between national leagues, players' unions, and global football's governing body over the future of the sport's schedule.