Legal action from the top European leagues and global players' union Fifpro against Fifa has been extended to include the world governing body's "abusive conduct" towards the women's game. The complaint, initially filed with the European Commission in October 2024, previously focused on the welfare of men's players.
European Leagues, representing 53 professional divisions and 1,328 clubs across 34 countries, stated on Tuesday that the scope of its complaint now covers "Fifa's abusive conduct regarding the women's international match calendar and related women's football regulatory decisions."
The organisation alleges that Fifa's actions threaten the growth and financial sustainability of women's professional leagues and risk player health and wellbeing. European Leagues claims Fifa holds conflicting roles as governing body and competition organiser, leading to a conflict of interest where it favours its own commercial interests over those of women's football and European national leagues.
The European Commission has been called upon to ensure that EU law is respected and that Fifa does not unilaterally determine the future of women's professional football.