FifPro release scathing statement against Fifa president Gianni Infantino: ‘The man who thinks he's god'

Irish Independent

10 hours ago

The inaugural rendition of the revamped tournament has come under heavy criticism for the increased strain it's put on players, further packing an already crammed football calendar. The heat of midday fixtures in the United States has been an additional player welfare issue in the United States.
However, it's understood FifPro were not invited to a meeting that Infantino staged on Saturday over 'key issues concerning player health' ahead of the Club World Cup final.
The player union has responded with a scathing statement that lambasts Infantino for 'silencing' the game's key protagonists.
'While the recent Club World Cup generated enthusiasm among numerous fans and allowed some of the world's leading figures to be seen in a single tournament, FifPro cannot fail to point out, with absolute clarity, that this competition hides a dangerous disconnect with the true reality experienced by most footballers around the world,' the statement read.
'What was presented as a global celebration of football was nothing more than a fiction created by Fifa, promoted by its president, without dialogue, sensitivity, and respect for those who sustain the game with their daily efforts. A grandiloquent staging inevitably reminiscent of the 'bread and circuses' of Nero's Rome, entertainment for the masses while behind the scenes inequality, precariousness, and the lack of protection for the true protagonists deepen.'
FifPro has called for Fifa to learn from the shortcomings of the Club World Cup ahead of next year's World Cup, which will also be held in the United States alongside Canada and Mexico.
'The tournament was held under unacceptable conditions, with matches played at extremely hot times and in temperatures that put the players' physical safety at risk,' the statement adds. 'This situation must not only be denounced, but must be firmly warned against. What happened cannot be repeated under any circumstances at next year's Fifa World Cup.
'At FifPro, we have been warning about the overcrowded schedule, the lack of physical and mental rest for players, and the lack of dialogue from Fifa. This way of organising tournaments, without listening to the Federation that represents the world's professional footballers' associations, is unilateral, authoritarian, and based solely on a logic of economic profitability, not human sustainability. We cannot continue to play with the health of players to fuel a marketing machine.
'There is no spectacle possible if the voices of the protagonists are silenced. At FifPro, we reiterate our commitment: we will firmly defend every right, denounce every abuse, and demand that Fifa adopt a truly inclusive policy that respects the integrity of footballers and places them at the center of every decision.'
Fifa had earlier said on Sunday that several players' representative groups and the sport's governing body had reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should have a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season.
It was unclear, though, whether the consensus would lead to a binding agreement since Fifrpo, the sport's global players' union, did not take part in the discussions.
Fifa did not immediately say which groups attended the talks on the eve of Sunday's Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea, mentioning 'representatives of several player unions from around the world'.
'There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period / holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,' Fifa said. 'This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.'
Enforcing a 72-hour period strictly could mean big adjustments to some game schedules and TV deals. Fifa didn't indicate how it would work in practice. European teams playing in the Europa League late Thursday evening routinely play domestic league games on the following Sunday. With a strict 72-hour break, they might have to wait until Monday to play again.