European Leagues, FIFPRO to file antitrust complaint about FIFA on Monday

FILE PHOTO: A long exposure shows FIFA’s logo near its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 27, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabBRUSSELS, Oct 11 (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.Advertisement · Scroll to continueThe 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.Advertisement · Scroll to continueFIFA 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.Get weekly news and analysis on the U.S. elections and how it matters to the world with the newsletter On the Campaign Trail. Sign up here.Reporting by Foo Yun Chee
Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tabShareXFacebookLinkedinEmailLinkPurchase Licensing RightsFoo Yun CheeThomson ReutersAn agenda-setting and market-moving journalist, Foo Yun Chee is a 21-year veteran at Reuters. Her stories on high profile mergers have pushed up the European telecoms index, lifted companies’ shares and helped investors decide on their next move. Her knowledge and experience of European antitrust laws and developments helped her break stories on Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple, numerous market-moving mergers and antitrust investigations. She has previously reported on Greek politics and companies, when Greece’s entry into the eurozone meant it punched above its weight on the international stage, as well as on Dutch corporate giants and the quirks of Dutch society and culture that never fail to charm readers.Email