The UNFP, the union for professional football players in France, have directed a scathing statement towards FIFA president Gianni Infantino – accusing him of “trampling on the physical and mental health of players.”
The UNFP called the tournament a “massacre” as they protested the “drastic increase in workloads” in modern football.
“From the top of his ivory tower, which he takes to the four corners of the planet, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the leading players in the game, while ‘his’ Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to put a stop to this game of massacre.
“It tramples on the physical and mental health of players for a few extra dollars, while making a mockery of, or even ignoring, the collective agreements – La Charte, in France – which, more or less everywhere, provide for an incompressible three-week rest period for footballers between two sports seasons.”
The UNFP continued: “The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads, but also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA alone is still building today.
“And this despite the more than explicit request made by the judges of the European Court in the Diarra ruling, calling on the International Federation to abandon its hegemonic approach and to include the players (players, coaches, doctors) and clubs in the decision-making process on issues that have a direct impact on their profession, whereas today they are simply presented with a fait accompli.
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“So why should the boss of world football be concerned about the mess his new madness is creating at home?
“He doesn’t care that Paris Saint-Germain will be playing their 62nd match of the season on Sunday, while four Ligue 1 clubs have already resumed training in preparation for the 2025/26 season and three more will follow suit on Monday.”
Ligue 1 recently rejected PSG’s request to reschedule their opening round fixture against Nantes on August 17.
Should Luis Enrique’s side make it to the final of the Club World Cup on July 13, they will be playing their 65th match of the season, and have only a month’s time between that date and the beginning of the Ligue 1 season.
