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Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has issued a stark warning that football’s global appeal is being jeopardized by a growing imbalance in favor of international competitions.
His comments come amid growing concerns over the impact of expanded international competitions on domestic leagues.
The tension on the domestic calendar was recently highlighted by Arsenal and Crystal Palace’s Carabao Cup tie and the rearrangement of preceding league fixtures, partly due to Palace’s participation in the UEFA Conference League.
The growing summer brings more worries club world cupLeagues fear economic and player welfare consequences, particularly as there is talk of increasing its size from 32 to 48 teams and holding it biennially.
Speaking at the World Leagues Association annual meeting in Athens, Masters stressed the urgency of the situation.
He said: “(This meeting) is the best attended ever and it is no surprise that it is taking place at a time when the balance between national and international football is under threat by the unprecedented expansion of international competitions.”
Masters continued by emphasizing the need for caution: “We cannot take the global popularity of football, its fans and its players for granted by disturbing this balance through an overloaded international calendar. All our members are united in the belief that domestic leagues must be preserved to restore this balance.”
He further said, “Communicate fifa It is now important and in the best interests of football to involve the league in any future decisions regarding the international calendar.”
This sentiment has been echoed by the European leagues and world players’ union FIFPRO, which have filed a legal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission.
They allege that FIFA is abusing its dominant position under EU competition law, acting as both regulator and competition organizer, causing economic and sporting losses to domestic leagues and compromising the welfare of players.
However, FIFA says it is within its rights to organize competitions such as the Club World Cup within the existing international calendar.
The organization also points to a memorandum of understanding with European football clubs, including the 17 Premier League teams, extending until 2030, which confirms the commitment of these clubs to the international programme.