FIFA Excludes FIFPRO from Rabat Player Welfare Meeting, Demands Financial Reports Before Talks Resume

The dispute between FIFA and the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has escalated, as FIFA did not invite FIFPRO to a scheduled meeting in Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. The meeting aims to discuss player welfare issues, specifically exploring ways to help players avoid fatigue and consecutive injuries caused by an excessive number of matches. FIFA has opted to continue these discussions unilaterally.

The intensity of the disagreement between FIFA and the international players' union, which represents over 65,000 footballers and 72 national unions, increased following FIFPRO's exclusion from FIFA's Professional Footballers' Advisory Forum meeting, set to take place this Saturday in Rabat.

FIFA stated that this gathering aims to address "key issues facing players in modern football." FIFPRO reacted in a statement, saying: "We are surprised that FIFA has once again invited player representatives to a meeting without inviting FIFPRO."

This tension dates back to last year when FIFPRO filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of insufficient consultation regarding the establishment of the Club World Cup. Since then, tensions have continued to escalate. FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi had described the tournament as "a fantasy created by FIFA, without dialogue or respect for the players."

Conversely, FIFA accuses the union of "not genuinely caring about players" and demands that it publish "its full financial reports" before any return to the negotiation table.