FIFA and Unions: Historic Agreement for Mandatory Rest for Football Players

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Victory for the Footballers: Agreements on Rest and Well-being

Football players’ unions have achieved a significant victory in their fight to establish mandatory rest periods. Following a key meeting in New York between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and senior representatives of players’ unions worldwide, a fundamental agreement was reached on the need to standardize rest times for footballers. This decision arises in response to growing concerns about the physical exhaustion of the players. Player groups had demanded concrete measures to protect the well-being of footballers, especially after FIFA’s decision to organize the Club World Cup, which this summer will feature 32 teams, during the European off-season. Following the conversations held on Saturday, FIFA and the players’ unions reached a “consensus” on a mandatory minimum of 72 hours between matches and a three-week rest period at the end of the season, according to the world football governing body. A proposal will also be considered for players’ unions to participate in FIFA Council meetings when matters related to players are discussed. The meeting addressed key issues relating to the health of the players (both men and women), a top priority, as it is part of the framework for the prevention of occupational hazards established by the International Labour Organization (ILO). In a statement, FIFA explained that the upcoming joint projects involving the world football governing body and players’ representative organizations were reviewed, with a specific focus on player rest and recovery, as well as competitions within the context of the International Match Calendar (IMC). It was agreed that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches and that players must have a rest/vacation period of at least 21 days at the end of each season.
Gianni Infantino
Gianni Infantino, presidente de la FIFA, ha enfrentado presión de las uniones de jugadores por la expansión de la Copa Mundial de Clubes.
This period must be managed individually by each club and the corresponding players, also depending on their match schedules and taking into account the applicable collective agreements. In addition, a day of rest per week should also be planned, which will be managed pragmatically. Furthermore, it was discussed that the players’ travel, especially long-distance intercontinental travel, and the climatic conditions in which the matches are played, should be taken into account when defining the policies for the next CIM. FIFPRO, the global footballers’ union, and the players’ unions of England and France filed a complaint against FIFA before the European Union in June 2024, alleging that it had abused its dominant position and violated European competition by expanding its match calendar with the expansion of the FIFA World Cup and the introduction of the Club World Cup. On the eve of the Club World Cup in the United States, FIFPRO called for a mandatory four-week break at the end of each season. With the introduction of the FIFA Club World Cup without consulting player groups, FIFA and player unions agreed on the need to achieve a “balance” between the club and international calendar. “Regarding competitions, FIFA and player unions agreed on the importance of achieving the right balance between national team football and club football, on the one hand, and between national, continental and world club competitions, on the other,” FIFA declared. “It’s important to create opportunities for players from all over the world to compete in the best competitions, as this drives the development of world football.” “In addition, it was also identified as a priority to offer more playing opportunities to players who are not at the highest international level.”
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