- Ongoing legal action over FIFA’s unilateral imposition of the International Match Calendar was in focus at FIFPRO Europe board meeting on Tuesday
- Board members addressed reform of transfer system following Diarra ruling by European Court of Justice
- Recent leadership meetings with FIFA in January and UEFA, CONMEBOL earlier this month were also discussed
FIFPRO Europe’s board met at FIFPRO House in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, on Tuesday 11 February to discuss priority items facing the organisation.
On the agenda were FIFPRO Europe’s legal action around the International Match Calendar and transfer system reform following the Diarra ruling.
The board meeting also provided an opportunity for FIFPRO Europe’s leadership to reflect on recent meetings with FIFA, UEFA and CONMEBOL.
A FIFPRO delegation consisting of President Sergio Marchi, FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier and board member Maheta Molango last month visited FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich, Switzerland. Last week, meanwhile, a meeting with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez took place in Nyon, Switzerland, with a view to strengthening ongoing cooperation with the two confederations.
FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier said: "Bringing the FIFPRO Europe board together in-person for the first time this year is an important opportunity to align on the key challenges our players face, especially following the meaningful meetings we’ve had with various stakeholders in recent weeks.
"Defining our next steps together, as a team, is essential to ensuring that our open dialogue and collective action strengthen our role in supporting footballers across Europe."
In attendance for part of the meeting were Jean-Louis Dupont and Martin Hissel, who are leading the ongoing legal action at the Brussels Court of Commerce over FIFA’s unilateral imposition of the International Match Calendar.
FIFPRO Europe, along with European Leagues and La Liga, last year also submitted a complaint to the European Commission against FIFA, challenging the legality of their decisions to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and, in particular, the decision to create and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 without proper involvement of affected stakeholders. Player unions believe these decisions violate the rights of players under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights while also potentially violating EU competition law.
Meanwhile, the European Court of Justice’s ruling in October 2024 of the Lassana Diarra case states central parts of FIFA’s player transfer rules are incompatible with European Union law. FIFPRO Europe and its unions analysed at the meeting what it means for active and retired players.
Get to know FIFPRO Europe’s Leadership
The FIFPRO Europe leadership, consisting of President David Terrier, General Secretary Joachim Walltin and seven other board members, works to elevate players’ employment conditions across men’s and women’s football in Europe.
The division consists of 36 member unions and engages with UEFA and European football stakeholders such as leagues, clubs and fans on workplace issues to safeguard the working rights and interests of footballers across the continent.
