FIFA Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Emilio García has “accused FIFPRO of playing sports politics” and claimed that the players’ union is “not interested in solving problems,” according to Felipe Cardenas of THE ATHLETIC. García’s comments come after FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of “running the sport as an autocracy.” Garcia yesterday said that FIFA is “disappointed with FIFPRO’s stance.” He added, “In recent weeks, it seems more like there’s a desire to appear in the media than a genuine concern for the real problems and situations of the players.” Before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, Infantino hosted a meeting in N.Y. in which FIFA said that a “consensus was reached regarding a defined rest period for players.” Cardenas notes FIFPRO was “not invited to the meeting.” Other player unions in attendance, along with FIFA, “settled on a 72-hour rest period between matches and an additional rest period of at least 21 days at the end of each season.” García said that FIFA and Infantino were “working to establish plans that address the heat, among other issues, ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup.” However, he indicated that “negotiating with FIFPRO, and particularly with Marchi, has become more difficult.” García referred to Marchi as “intelligent” and said that he has worked with Marchi “on several projects.” He added that FIFA would “never question the legitimacy of the president of FIFPRO” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/31).
