Fifa hailing of Club World Cup ‘a fiction’ says player union

FIFA’s Club World Cup has drawn heavy criticism from the head of global players’ union Fifpro, with Sergio Marchi describing it as “nothing more than a fiction” driven by profit rather than player welfare.

In a direct attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Marchi likened his leadership style to that of the Roman emperor Nero. “What was presented as a global celebration of football was nothing more than a fiction created by Fifa, promoted by its president, without dialogue, sensitivity, and respect for those who sustain the game with their daily efforts,” Marchi said.

The criticism lands in the wake of BBC Sport revealing that Fifpro was left out of a pre-final meeting on player health at the Club World Cup. Representatives from other unions were invited.

Last year, FIFPRO filed a legal complaint against FIFA, arguing that the governing body had overstepped by unilaterally expanding the tournament, worsening fixture congestion. That legal challenge—filed under European competition law—accuses Fifa of prioritising financial gain over athlete health.

Infantino recently labelled the revamped event “the most successful club competition in the world” and claimed it marked the beginning of “the golden era of global club football.”

Marchi, however, issued a stern rebuttal. While acknowledging the tournament had offered fans a showcase of top-level talent, he warned of a widening gap between the tournament’s spectacle and the lived experience of most footballers. “A grandiloquent staging inevitably reminiscent of the ‘bread and circuses’ of Nero’s Rome,” Marchi said, referring to the Roman leader’s use of public entertainment to distract from the regime’s lack of reform.

According to Marchi, the players’ health was neglected during the Club World Cup, especially under soaring temperatures in the United States. “The tournament was held under unacceptable conditions… that put the players’ physical integrity at risk,” he outlined.

He argued that Fifpro had long been warning about overloaded schedules and restricted recovery periods, and said Fifa continued to act “unilaterally” and “authoritarian,” without proper consultation with the global players’ union.

Marchi called the Club World Cup’s organisation “based solely on a logic of economic profitability, not human sustainability,” insisting the situation must not be repeated at the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA has maintained that revenue from the competition will be redistributed to both participating and non-participating clubs. It has also noted that several players and coaches showed support for the revamped structure.

On rest guidelines, FIFA claimed there was general agreement on scheduling changes, including ensuring 72 hours between matches and a minimum 21-day recovery gap post-season—an improvement, though still short of what FIFPRO has been pushing for.

FIFA has been contacted for comment.