BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe will formally file a joint complaint about FIFA’s international match calendar to EU antitrust regulators on Monday, the sports organisation and players’ union said.
The move by the two, announced in July, comes two weeks after Europe’s top court ruled that the world soccer governing body’s player transfer rules breach EU laws following a challenge by French former player Lassana Diarra.
The complaint also underlines a growing tendency by disgruntled athletes and sports organisations to turn to the EU antitrust enforcer to help secure a level playing field and chip away at the power of governing bodies.
European Leagues and FIFPRO’s grievance centres on the international match calendar, which they say has become unsustainable for national leagues and a health risk for players, with FIFA allegedly abusing its market power.
FIFA in turn has said the current calendar was unanimously approved by its council after a comprehensive consultation, which included FIFPRO and league bodies.
The European Commission, which acts as the competition enforcer for the 27-country bloc, can order companies to stop anti-competitive practices and also fine them.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
