FIFA accused of sabotaging player welfare plans by consulting with fake unions
Player welfare is one of the biggest burning issues in world football, and it is growing rapidly to spark concerns among the players and player unions.
New Delhi: FIFA has been accused of sabotaging plans to manage player welfare issues by consulting with "fake" unions, as per a report in BBC Sport. FIFPro, the world players' union, revealed that the world governing football body is "creating FIFA-friendly organisations for consultation processes rather than engaging with the recognised football representative bodies".
FIFPro accused the world body of using "similar strategies with agents and fans" and called them out over the "concerning pattern".
FIFA, on Wednesday, announced a series of measures after conducting a meeting on player welfare in Rabat, Morocco, over the weekend.
FIFPro, representatives of 66,000 players globally, were not invited. FIFA is yet to respond to the allegations.
FIFA blamed for putting players' health at risk
Player welfare is one of the biggest burning issues, which is growing rapidly to spark concerns. FIFPro, last month, took legal action against FIFA and blamed the body for putting players' health at risk due to the packed football calendar.
Last season, Man City midfielder Rodri was among the group of players voicing their concern about the jam-packed football calendar. He also revealed that players were close to going on strike because of an increase in games. The Spanish midfielder suffered a season-ending knee injury the following week.
Meanwhile, FIFA had earlier revealed that its meeting was attended by representatives from 30 national player unions and members of its Players' Voice Panel, an advisory group of former footballers.
FIFA's plans to create a player welfare fund were shelved three years ago in 2022, according to FIFPro.
Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association - which represents players in England and Wales - was critical of FIFA's actions.
"It's sad news when instead of engaging with the people who have been elected to be the voice of the players, the authority decides to pick who they would like to sit at the table with," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"This is very, very concerning. They don't engage with us. It looks like they have found new people to talk to, who are not recognised unions."
The Rabat meeting followed an identical meeting on player welfare in New York in July. FIFPro was not invited to the meeting again.