Tag: FIFA

FIFA has published a long-awaited report it commissioned into the legacy of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but has failed to implement its key recommendation.

The governing body’s sub-committee on human rights and social responsibility concluded that Fifa “has a responsibility” to contribute to compensation for workers harmed by the tournament’s preparation and delivery.

“There are workers who have contributed to the resounding success of the World Cup… who have not yet benefited from any, or any adequate remediation,” it says.

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The committee advises Fifa to “to dedicate the World Cup 2022 legacy fund in full or in part to further strengthen the competition’s legacy for migrant workers”.

Fifa unveiled a £39.4m ‘legacy fund’ earlier this week, but it did not include compensation for workers impacted by the tournament, drawing criticism from human rights campaigners.

The report – which was commissioned in March 2023 – was submitted last December but Fifa has waited almost a year to release it.

The findings are based on independent research that found “a number of severe human rights impacts did ultimately occur in Qatar from 2010 through 2022 for a number of workers connected to the 2022 World Cup. This included: deaths, injuries and illnesses; wages not being paid for months on end; and significant debt faced by workers and their families reimbursing the fees they paid to obtain jobs in Qatar”.

Some of FIFA‘s rules on player transfers go against European Union laws and free movement principles, the EU’s top court said on Friday in a ruling that could open the door for players to find a new club more easily after their contract is terminated.

FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) say a player who terminates a contract before its term “without just cause” is liable to pay compensation to the club, and where the player joins a new club they will be jointly liable for payment of compensation.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), ruling on a high-profile case linked to former France player Lassana Diarra, stated these dispositions were unlawful, and the judgment is expected to prompt FIFA to revamp its transfer regulations.

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“The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club,” said the Luxembourg-based CJEU.

“Those rules impose considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them which, taken together, are such as to impede international transfers of those players.”

World football’s governing body FIFA on Thursday gave no verdict either way on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel, but instead launched an investigation into allegations of discrimination.

At FIFA’s congress in Bangkok in May, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) called for its Israeli counterpart to be suspended and for Israeli teams to be banned from FIFA competitions.

The PFA claims that the Israel Football Association (IFA) has broken FIFA discrimination rules.

The accusation came seven months into Israel’s war with Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

FIFA was initially set to hold an extraordinary session of its ruling council before July 20 to review independent legal analysis and decide how to proceed.

However, the deadline was pushed back to give the legal experts more time to complete a report.

At the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, the FIFA Council adopted the recommendations and conclusions reached in the legal analysis.

It decided that its disciplinary committee would be mandated to investigate the alleged offence of discrimination raised by the PFA.

Meanwhile the FIFA governance, audit and compliance committee “will be entrusted with the mission to investigate – and subsequently advise the FIFA Council on – the participation in Israeli competitions of Israeli football teams allegedly based in the territory of Palestine.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement that “The FIFA Council has implemented due diligence on this very sensitive matter and, based on a thorough assessment, we have followed the advice of the independent experts.

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“The ongoing violence in the region confirms that, above all considerations… we need peace.

“As we remain extremely shocked by what is happening, and our thoughts are with those who are suffering, we urge all parties to restore peace to the region with immediate effect.”

In Bangkok, PFA head Jibril Rajoub claimed that the Israeli FA had broken FIFA rules, adding: “FIFA cannot afford to remain indifferent to these violations.”

He called for the “immediate” suspension of Israel from FIFA.

His Israeli counterpart Shino Moshe Zuares rejected the call as “cynical, political and hostile”, insisting that the IFA had not broken any FIFA rules.

 “The proposal submitted by the PFA has nothing to do with the IFA and its activity,” he said, calling it an attempt to harm Israeli football, based on motives that had nothing to do with sport.

Israel has been at war with Hamas militants in Gaza for 11 months.

GROUP A: Colombia, Australia, Cameroon, Mexico

GROUP B: France, Canada, Brazil, Fiji

GROUP C: Spain, USA, Paraguay, Morocco

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GROUP D: Germany, Venezuela, Nigeria, Korea Republic

GROUP E: Japan, New Zealand, Ghana, Austria

GROUP F: Korea DPR, Argentina, Costa Rica, The Netherlands

Bank of America (BAC.N), opens new tab is partnering with FIFA to become a sponsor for the 2026 World Cup, soccer’s global governing body said, in a move that will link the financial giant with one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

Sponsoring sport can be a fruitful marketing tactic for companies as it allows them to reach a wider audience and boost recognition of their brands.

The second-biggest U.S. lender will be FIFA’s first-ever global sponsor in the banking category, the association said.

FIFA has a similar partnership with payments processing giant Visa (V.N), opens new tab since 2007, after it broke ties with MasterCard (MA.N), opens new tab following a dispute.

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BofA said the partnership would “complement its global and local market strategies” and allow it to engage with “a worldwide audience”.

“Football connects the world like no other sport,” BofA CEO Brian Moynihan said in a statement.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches and 48 participating teams, significantly higher than the last summit clash in Qatar in 2022, when 32 teams played 64 matches.

It will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Of the 16 host cities, 11 are in the U.S.

FIFA says it is happy to discuss the football calendar with the bodies threatening legal action.

Last week the European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues in 33 countries, and global players’ union Fifpro announced the action over what they say is FIFA’s “abuse of dominance” in the game.

In May the World Leagues Association – which includes 46 leagues including the Premier League – said it could go down the legal route if FIFA continued with plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season.

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It comes following growing pressure over the number of games added to the calendar and the impact on players.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA has reiterated an invitation to meet and discuss the calendar with World Leagues Association and Fifpro, having received no response to a letter on 10 May 2024.

“FIFA believes there is a more productive way forward for football than the threat of legal action and the offer to engage in dialogue remains on the table.

“FIFA serves and balances the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players, and always strives to do what is best for the game around the world.”

The top European leagues, including the Premier League, and global players’ union FIFPro will launch legal action against world governing body FIFA  over its “abuse of dominance” in the game.

The European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, says it is filing a complaint to the European Commission to protect the welfare of players.

It comes following growing pressure from leagues and player unions, including the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), over the number of games added to the calendar and the impact on players.

A FIFPro statement said the international calendar is “now beyond saturation”, “unsustainable for national leagues” and a “risk for the health of players”.

It added: “FIFA’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.

“Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce.”

The statement said FIFA has “consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process”, having been urged to develop a clear and transparent process regarding the international match calendar.

The European Leagues includes the English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A and the Bundesliga. La Liga is not a member but is joining the action.

In May FIFA rejected a claim that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup.

Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the USA between 15 June and 13 July 2025.

FIFA has responded strongly to the action, accusing some leagues of “hypocrisy” by sending their players on global pre-season tours.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “The current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which is composed of representatives from all continents, including Europe, following a comprehensive and inclusive consultation, which included Fifpro and league bodies.

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“FIFA’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.

“Some leagues in Europe – themselves competition organisers and regulators – are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world.

“Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel.

“By contrast, FIFA  must protect the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players, everywhere and at all levels of the game.”

A recent study by the CIES Football Observatory, external – a research group at the International Centre for Sports Studies – on schedules and player workload suggested that clubs are not playing more matches per season.

Its report found that between 2012 and 2024, the average number of fixtures per club and season sat at just over 40, with about 5% of clubs playing 60 or more games per season.

No significant change was observed in the proportion of clubs playing 60 or more 

The top European leagues, including the Premier League, and global players’ union Fifpro will launch legal action against world governing body Fifa over its “abuse of dominance” in the game.

The European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, says it is filing a complaint to the European Commission to protect the welfare of players.

It comes following growing pressure from leagues and player unions, including the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), over the number of games added to the calendar and the impact on players.

A Fifpro statement said the international calendar is “now beyond saturation”, “unsustainable for national leagues” and a “risk for the health of players”.

It added: “Fifa’s decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.

“Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and its workforce.”

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The statement said Fifa has “consistently refused to include national leagues and player unions in its decision-making process”, having been urged to develop a clear and transparent process regarding the international match calendar.

The European Leagues includes the English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A and the Bundesliga. La Liga is not a member but is joining the action.

In May Fifa rejected a claim that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup.

Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the USA between 15 June and 13 July 2025.