FIFA has been hit with legal action over the expanded Club World Cup, which Rulani Mokwena's Mamelodi Sundowns have qualified for.
Check Out: Real Madrid Icon: How I Feel About Barcelona Star
In April, it was confirmed by world football's governing body that Sundowns would be participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, set to be held in the United States.
The tournament has been transformed into a 32-team competition played between clubs from around the globe, having previously only consisted of seven sides.
The decision to expand the Club World Cup was met with immediate backlash following FIFA's announcement amid concerns over player welfare.
According to Goal, the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) and some of its member groups have now taken FIFA to court in Belgium, claiming the body's "unilateral scheduling decisions compromise players' rights and well-being".
President of FIFPRO Europe David Terrier said:
"Since all attempts at dialogue have failed, it is now up to us to ensure that the fundamental rights of players are fully respected by taking the matter to the European courts and thus to the ECJ. It's not a question of stigmatising a particular competition, but of denouncing both the underlying problem and the straw that broke the camel's back."
Spearheaded by the union's European member branches from England and France, FIFPRO officials argue that the tournament's restructure places excessive demands on players and allows them little time for rest between seasons.
The 2025 Club World Cup is currently scheduled to get underway on 14 June, just two weeks after the UEFA Champions League final on 31 May.
Check Out: Messi Names The Last Club He'll Play For
This is expected to leave footballers with limited time to recover for pre-season ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with FIFPRO concerned by the physical and mental toll this could take on players.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
