French soccer union blasts Club World Cup over ’massacre’ of player welfare

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PARIS — France’s union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the Club World Cup on Sunday, saying it is “urgent to stop this massacre” amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads.

The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living “in an ivory tower” by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide.

“The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers. From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game’s leading players,” the UNFP said in a statement early Sunday morning. “His (Infantino’s) Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars.”

The UNFP statement said the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season, and thereby ignores “collective bargaining agreements (which) almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons.”

FIFA was approached for a comment by The Associated Press.

Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, which ends on July 13, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout.

The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world’s best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men’s World Cup, European Championship and Copa America.

It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players’ mental and physical welfare due to too many games.

“The UNFP, like FIFPRO and FIFPRO Europe, has been protesting for years against the drastic increase in workloads,” the UNFP added. “But also against the harmful repercussions for domestic football of a calendar that FIFA is still alone in building today.”

Last September, Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee injury soon after saying players were close to going on strike over excessive workloads.

No rest for PSG

Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain is one of the biggest sides involved in the Club World Cup.

After winning the Champions League on May 31, key PSG players like Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue played for France and then went to the United States soon after for the Club World Cup.

Some French clubs have already resumed training for the upcoming Ligue 1 season, which begins mid-August, while others start next week. PSG was not able to push back its start to the Ligue 1 season.

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“We don’t see how or why the Parisians should not benefit from the three weeks of complete rest they are entitled to,” the UNFP said, adding that the toll of extra games for PSG’s players could impact the national team in early September.

“A delay in preparation that must also worry (France coach) Didier Deschamps ahead of two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. What do you say, Mr. Infantino?”

FIFA hopes the event will be to club soccer what the World Cup is to international soccer and establish itself as one of the biggest and wealthiest tournaments in sport.

The old version of the Club World Cup, which was played yearly, was dominated by European teams in recent times. Only Brazilian team Corinthians broke Europe’s winning run in 17 years.