Unions begin legal action against Club World Cup

Two of the biggest player unions in European soccer have "launched legal action against FIFA" after calling the new Club World Cup a "'tipping point' in the demands placed upon its members." The English Professional Footballers Association and its French counterparts, the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels, "will argue the rights of players are being violated under EU laws" after FIFA added its new 32-club competition on to the end of the 2024-25 season. FIFPro, the global soccer players union, is also "supporting the case." The unions "will ask the case to be referred to the European Court of Justice," where they will look to "challenge the legality of FIFA’s ability to 'unilaterally' set the International Match Calendar." The new and expanded competition will be staged in the U.S. next summer (THE ATHLETIC, 6/13).