They also pledged to develop a response that is in the best interests of the future of the game, and they are likely to intensify their resistance to FIFA's plans if their concerns continue to go unheard.
There, the board emphasised that 'the constant growth in the volume of international club and national team matches is unsustainable for player welfare and for the scheduling of domestic football'. Masters acts as chair of the Forum, and the group's sentiments echo those of the PFA and FIFPro, who criticised FIFA's announcement this week of a new 32-club tournament in the summer of 2025.įIFPro has been working closely with the World Leagues Forum on the match-calendar issue, and concerns were discussed at the Forum's AGM earlier this year. The belief was also conveyed that FIFA refuses to consider the interests of the national competitions, as it continues to overload the footballing calendar, and serious concerns over the impact on player welfare were reiterated. In a forthright letter sent to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Sunday, the group's 44 members, which includes the Premier League, accused the governing body of consistently prioritising its own interests. The World Leagues Forum - run by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters - has complained to FIFA about not being consulted over its expanded Club World Cup. Image: Premier League chief executive Richard Masters runs the World Leagues Forum
