Foot Africa
·15 juillet 2025
Italian Players’ Union Joins FIFPRO in Condemning Club World Cup Schedule

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Yahoo sportsFoot Africa
·15 juillet 2025
"Player health and rights are at risk" warns global footballers union over overloaded calendar
Italian Players’ Union Joins FIFPRO in Condemning Club World Cup Schedule
The Italian Players Association AIC's voiced full support for FIFPRO’s strong opposition to the 2025 FIFA Club World cup and the increasingly congested international calendar citing serious concerns over player health, rights and working conditions.
In statement released on Monday, AIC declared:
"We fully endorse the critical stance expressed by FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi regarding the organization of the expanded Club World cup and the wider issue of match congestion on the international calendar"
The union called on FIFA to engage in transparent dialogue with player associations globally stressing the need to prioritize the well being and dignity of those who power the game.
Marchi'd earlier launched scathing attack on FIFA following the Club World cup final between Chelsea & PSG accusing football’s governing body of ignoring the realities faced by most professional players.
"This tournament may entertain fans but it’s fantasy detached from the daily struggle of the vast majority of footballers" he said.
Marchi compared the event to "bread & circus" policies in ancient Rome masking growing inequality and insecurity behind high profile spectacle.
He criticized the lack of minimum standards, late wages and poor medical coverage faced by many players globally.
FIFPRO also condemned the extreme weather conditions during several matches in the U.S, warning that high temperatures posed serious risk to players physical safety.
"We’ve warned FIFA about calendar overload and the lack of physical & mental recovery time for players .. No spectacle is worth sacrificing human well being. It’s time to adopt inclusive policy that puts players not profits , at the center"