World Leagues Demand Role In FIFA Calendar Decisions

The World Leagues Association (WLA) has again called for “structured collaboration, between international governing bodies and national leagues” on the international calendar to avoid disruption of national competitions and to protect player welfare.

The WLA and its leagues have been left outside the stakeholder groups and meetings that FIFA has held over the international calendar and is demanding that they should have a seat at the table. FIFA has shown no signs of relenting and allowing them into the discussion, including using their clubs and league-developed players for their own competitions.

Meeting in London, the WLA board received an update on the legal complaint filed at the European Commission by the WLA’s European members and Fifpro Europe. That filing challenges FIFA’s unilateral decisions in setting the international match calendar and the Club World Cup and requests that “FIFA introduces a transparent, objective, and inclusive decision-making framework in line with the recent judgements of the European Court of Justice,” said the WLA.

“It is in the interests of the whole game to protect the economic and social value of national leagues, which are watched by millions of fans, and support 4,000 clubs and 130,000 professional players, providing football’s foundations.”

In separate business the WLA elected Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A (Italy), as vice-chair, succeeding Enrique Bonilla (Liga MX, Mexico), who has stepped down after three years, following two years as Chair. De Siervo joins the WLA Management Board, which includes chair Richard Masters, (Premier League, England) and vice-chair Don Garber (Major League Soccer, USA).

The WLA board also touched on the ruling by the European Court of Justice in the Diarra case and “reiterated its commitment to providing legal certainty for clubs and ensuring the protection of the transfer system, which plays a vital role in rewarding clubs for training young talents.” The WLA said this should be achieved by “social dialogue and in full respect of national laws”.

Insideworldfootball.com