European player unions from 17 nations, including France, Italy and the Netherlands, have “withdrawn their support for a class action lawsuit" against FIFA “following a governance agreement.” The new memorandum of understanding between FIFA and FIFPro was signed on June 10 and “runs until December 2031, granting players an official voice in governance and establishing a Global Social Dialogue Platform based on collective bargaining principles.” Seeking “damages for an estimated 100,000 eligible players,” the independent class action argues that FIFA’s “restrictive transfer regulations unlawfully restricted freedom of movement and suppressed player wages." The suit was launched in August 2025 by the Amsterdam-based group Justice for Players (REUTERS, 7/9).
European player unions pull support for suit against FIFA
