PFA chief executive Maheta Molango has criticized FIFA for its proposed expansion of the Club World Cup.
FIFA introduced a larger 32-team Club World Cup which is set to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, causing an increase in the number of matches in the already packed schedule.
FIFA claimed that they have prioritized player welfare in their tournament planning, ensuring that all teams will have at least three days of rest between matches.
However, Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has criticized FIFA for its decision to go ahead with an expanded Club World Cup.
Malongo condemned FIFA's actions demonstrating that the ruling body lacks genuine concern for players' welfare.
The PFA chief said: ''The decision to push ahead with yet another expanded summer tournament - adding more and more games to a fixture list that is already at bursting point - just confirms that any expression of concern for player welfare is merely a pretense."
'Ultimately, players have become pawns in a battle for primacy between football's governing bodies, with no one willing to take a step back or to work collaboratively to create a sustainable calendar.
The PFA chief emphasized that the scheduling of matches and the size of the teams will raise serious troubles for unions and leagues.
He added: "These decisions have consequences - not just for players who are being pushed until they break, but for the future quality of these tournaments, with players becoming injured or withdrawing from games as they make their own decisions about how to manage what have become ridiculous demands.''
However, FIFA insists that the Club World Cup will not create any disruption and was not intended to add to the calendar, but rather to replace the Confederations Cup.
FIFPRO has advised FIFA that players should be given a mandatory minimum off-season break of 28 days, excluding pre-season training before returning to match action.
However, with FIFA's confirmation that the tournament will run until July 13, any players involved in the final would only have a 27-day break if the 2025-26 Premier League season started on August 9.
A team reaching the final would need to play seven matches, with FIFA confirming that the format would be the same as the 32-team Qatar World Cup, minus the third-place play-off.
There's no doubt that players who will be participating in the Club World Cup tournament are bound to feel pressure ahead of the new season.
Furthermore, the World Leagues Forum, led by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, has reached out to FIFA following its decisions concerning the Club World Cup.
In the letter, signed by Masters as the WLF chair, the organization has outlined its concerns about FIFA's refusal to acknowledge the impact on domestic competitions and its continued burden on the calendar.
WLF contends that FIFA, rather than prioritizing its role as a sports regulator, is putting its competitions above those run by other national leagues and associations.
Chelsea and Manchester City have earned spots in the tournament by winning the Champions League in 2021 and 2022 respectively, while Arsenal could also qualify if they win the trophy this season.
Additionally, FIFA has confirmed that Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica have secured places in the tournament through the coefficient pathway.
What's your take on FIFA's plan concerning the Club World Cup? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below
What happened?
FIFA introduced a larger 32-team Club World Cup which is set to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, causing an increase in the number of matches in the already packed schedule.
FIFA claimed that they have prioritized player welfare in their tournament planning, ensuring that all teams will have at least three days of rest between matches.
However, Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has criticized FIFA for its decision to go ahead with an expanded Club World Cup.
Malongo condemned FIFA's actions demonstrating that the ruling body lacks genuine concern for players' welfare.
The PFA chief said: ''The decision to push ahead with yet another expanded summer tournament - adding more and more games to a fixture list that is already at bursting point - just confirms that any expression of concern for player welfare is merely a pretense."
'Ultimately, players have become pawns in a battle for primacy between football's governing bodies, with no one willing to take a step back or to work collaboratively to create a sustainable calendar.
The PFA chief emphasized that the scheduling of matches and the size of the teams will raise serious troubles for unions and leagues.
He added: "These decisions have consequences - not just for players who are being pushed until they break, but for the future quality of these tournaments, with players becoming injured or withdrawing from games as they make their own decisions about how to manage what have become ridiculous demands.''
However, FIFA insists that the Club World Cup will not create any disruption and was not intended to add to the calendar, but rather to replace the Confederations Cup.
Factors negating FIFA's Club World Cup plan
FIFPRO has advised FIFA that players should be given a mandatory minimum off-season break of 28 days, excluding pre-season training before returning to match action.
However, with FIFA's confirmation that the tournament will run until July 13, any players involved in the final would only have a 27-day break if the 2025-26 Premier League season started on August 9.
A team reaching the final would need to play seven matches, with FIFA confirming that the format would be the same as the 32-team Qatar World Cup, minus the third-place play-off.
There's no doubt that players who will be participating in the Club World Cup tournament are bound to feel pressure ahead of the new season.
Furthermore, the World Leagues Forum, led by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, has reached out to FIFA following its decisions concerning the Club World Cup.
In the letter, signed by Masters as the WLF chair, the organization has outlined its concerns about FIFA's refusal to acknowledge the impact on domestic competitions and its continued burden on the calendar.
WLF contends that FIFA, rather than prioritizing its role as a sports regulator, is putting its competitions above those run by other national leagues and associations.
Chelsea and Manchester City have earned spots in the tournament by winning the Champions League in 2021 and 2022 respectively, while Arsenal could also qualify if they win the trophy this season.
Additionally, FIFA has confirmed that Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, and Benfica have secured places in the tournament through the coefficient pathway.
What's your take on FIFA's plan concerning the Club World Cup? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below