FIFA warns players could go on strike

Saturday, 1 June 2024 00:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Football’s world governing body FIFA has been warned players are willing to go on strike if they continue to be overworked.

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango believes players are now at breaking point.

The PFA has been calling for action to alter the congested football calendar, especially with the expanded 32-team Club World Cup proposed for next summer.

“I can tell you a situation not even 10 days ago where I went to a dressing room directly affected and I said: ‘I’m happy to be here and bark a bit but ultimately it’s down to you. How far would you like to go?” said Molango, speaking at the PFA and world players’ union Fifpro’s end-of-season review of player workload and recovery.

“Some of them said: ‘I’m not having it, we may as well strike.’ Some said: ‘what’s the point? Yes I’m a millionaire but I don’t even have time to spend the money’.

“It’s not even the union who has said it, it has been Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. We have reached a point where we cannot discount any action.”

The PFA has threatened legal action and has been exploring options to do that over the growing number of games in the football calendar.

In conjunction with the PFA, a letter was sent to FIFA in May by Fifpro and the World Leagues Association (WLA) – which includes the Premier League – threatening legal action if it continues with plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season.

In a letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom, seen by BBC Sport, Fifpro and the World Leagues Association say if FIFA extends its own competitions then it should alter others.

It adds that “imposing the burden of adaptation on national leagues and players is inherently abusive” and is “jeopardising national leagues and affecting the health and wellbeing of players”.