FIFPRO Europe and UEFA’s Memorandum of Understanding
FIFPRO Europe and UEFA in October 2024 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that includes important measures to increase the voice of players in European football governance.
The MoU, which lasts three years, gives players and their unions greater influence in decisions affecting employment conditions, such as changes to the match calendar and playing conditions, and aspects related to health and safety.
Speaking at the European Stakeholder Dialogue session, UEFA’s Head of Stakeholder Affairs Javier Morente said: "The key takeaways is that load is a complex issue with many variables that we need to take into account. That is not only the number of matches, but also the travel time, the infrastructure of the club, the medical staff, the nutrition plans.
"Dialogue is important because we often have different views and, in such a complex topic, we need to align and find a consensus to move forward European football forward."
European Leagues Deputy General Secretary Alberto Colombo said: "The European Stakeholder Dialogue provided an excellent opportunity to share the perspective of domestic competitions' organisers on players' load and calendar congestion in football. We are committed to working together to find the best solutions to elevate the current game."
Hakim Chalabi, ECA's Paris Saint-Germain Representative and Medical & Performance Panel Chair, said: "Players, clubs, leagues and UEFA need to have a common consensus. The key messages from this dialogue was that we'll have to look at the overload, but also the underload of players, to find the right solution to protect the health of players."
