- Belgian university KU Leuven says professional football has a duty to apply tailored international health and safety standards, respecting European legal frameworks
- The university report says football governing bodies and social partners have a specific responsibility to take a proactive and holistic approach to player welfare
- The report, which was commissioned by FIFPRO, will be submitted to European Commission and national courts as part of ongoing legal proceedings
A report published today by Belgian University Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) says that the professional football sector is failing in its duty to apply required safety standards and, as a result, is violating existing legal frameworks at a European and global level.
The research carried out by employment law expert Prof. Dr. Frank Hendrickx and occupational health and safety expert Prof. Dr. Lode Godderis looks at the holistic job demands and resources of the professional football sector, taking note of various stressors in a multifaceted and high-risk environment. Meanwhile, it examines football’s legal obligations to apply health and safety standards to the sector.
Prof. Dr. Frank Hendrickx, Director of the Institute for Labour Law at KU Leuven, said: “The report confirms that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, as defined by European and international frameworks, are fully applicable to the professional football industry. Recognised as workers under national, European and international labour law, professional football players are entitled to the same principles as other workers. While the football sector needs a tailored approach, the specificities of work or the income of a worker cannot be grounds to deny OSH standards.”
The report by KU Leuven, which was commissioned by FIFPRO, categorically outlines five overarching principles arising from its analysis:
1. Applying Standards – Compliance with Legal Framework and OSH Standards
European Union and International Labour Organization (ILO) health and safety standards apply to all workers, including professional football players. The existing standards are fundamental workers’ rights and fully apply independently of income or the number of affected workers. Furthermore, the industry must account for specific vulnerable groups, such as young players, in adhering to these standards.
In line with these scientific findings FIFPRO strongly rejects the impression that (1) the number of affected players would make necessary health and safety measures irrelevant, (2) that workers’ remuneration would make them not deserving of these safeguards or would lift the legal responsibility to provide such protections and (3) that the overall responsibility of governing bodies and regulators is dependent on a specific number of matches they directly organise.
2. Worker-centred – Holistic OSH Standards in the Football Industry
OSH regulations address both the physical and mental well-being of workers. It is therefore essential for the football industry to acknowledge the intense demands unique to professional football. While adjustments in health and safety standards may accommodate the industries specificities, fundamental worker protections remain non-negotiable. This approach mandates that safety standards encompass the complete spectrum of the working environment of the player.
In line with these scientific findings FIFPRO emphasises that the accumulation of extreme demands such as number of matches, international travel, late night travel, sleep disruption as well as the extensive demands during tournaments are not taken into account for when competition schedules and formats are being designed.
3. Identifying Risk – Comprehensive Risk Management Strategy
The implementation of proactive risk management strategies is a key OSH requirement. An accurate risk assessment must take a multifaceted approach in order to take account of all the relevant job demands for professional players. This also includes the external working environment (e.g. travel, match calendar, overlapping competitions).
In line with the scientific finding, FIFPRO emphasises that at no point did any governing body that holds dual regulatory and competition organiser functions carry out a risk assessment analysing the anticipated changes to competition formats and the impact on the job demands and working realities of players.
KU Leuven Report - Impact Of Workload On Football Players Health And Wellbeing Medical And Legal Perspectives
4. Employer & Industry Responsibility – Collective action and Organisational Accountability
A comprehensive protection of players requires a sector wide commitment by governing bodies. As regulators and competition organisers they bear significant responsibility for fostering sector-wide standards to ensure alignment with OSH requirements.
In line with the scientific finding, FIFPRO underlines that governing bodies, as regulators and competition organisers, have shown no commitment to identify holistic health and safety standards to address player needs in a high-risk environment.
5. Worker Involvement – Central Role in Negotiating Policies
Active worker involvement is essential in developing effective OSH policies, particularly in high-stakes, fast-paced environments such as professional football. It requires a meaningful role in shaping, implementing, and overseeing health and safety policies. This extends to decision-making processes regarding the match calendar, competition schedules, prevention protocols, and safety standards.
In line with the scientific findings, FIFPRO confirms again that it was at no point party to any meaningful discussions and decision-making processes on the match calendar and competition schedules and required safety standards.
Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Global Policy & Strategic Relations – Men’s Football, said: “This scientific report shows that, save for exceptions such as emergency services or the military, the standards of the European Union and International Labour Organization do not exempt any industry from implementing health and safety standards for workers. However, despite new or expanded competitions, that have substantially changed the structure of work for players, the professional football sector has failed to implement such standards. There is an onerous responsibility on the football sector and its international governing bodies in their dual role as competition organisers and regulators, to ensure player health is effectively managed through sector wide agreements with workers.”
The findings of the report show that by continuously assessing and improving health and safety practices, the football industry can foster an environment of growth, resilience, and well-being, directly benefiting players and the sector as a whole. The results serve as a pragmatic guide for actionable steps that can be taken that will benefit the football industry as a whole.
The independent report by KU Leuven will be submitted as evidence to the joint complaint by FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues and LaLiga to the European Commission against FIFA over its conduct concerning the imposition of the international match calendar, including decisions relating to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
The research also serves as supporting evidence to a separate legal action against FIFA that has been filed by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) and Associazione Italiana Calciatori (AIC), with the support of FIFPRO Europe, at the Brussels Commercial Court.
