FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup—one of the largest tournaments ever with 63 games this year—set to be hosted in the United States, has drawn enormous controversy. Funded by Saudi Arabian money, this month-long event has faced widespread condemnation for its planned timing and negative impacts on players’ health. It was with this in mind that FIFA first agreed to include this tournament in its official calendar. They reached this decision without officially consulting the athletes at stake, alarming player unions.
For European clubs, the tournament has been afforded mammoth financial windfalls. Players taking part in the event have reported suffering negative health impacts, such as dizziness and feeling sick overall. Daytime matches are strategically scheduled to maximize their reach to a global television audience. Most players feel like these are not acceptable conditions for elite-level competition, and that has resulted in a number of problems.
Yet critics say that the tournament’s harsh conditions and treatment of athletes reflect a shocking lack of concern for the well-being of athletes. They say this insensitivity is more than disheartening. FIFPRO, the global representative organization for professional football players, shared grave concerns about their experience.
“This tournament is celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes.” – FIFPRO
FIFPRO’s mission is to safeguard the rights of players. They point out that FIFA’s commercial practices are today eroding those rights.
“FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players – rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance.” – FIFPRO
The profile of these players’ health complaints raises serious questions about the self-harm baked into the structure and opening-weekend scheduling of this tournament. On top of that, athletes are expected to compete with extreme conditions. At the same time, the clash between commercial imperatives and player welfare has entered a new phase.
