The Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) were the first clubs and leagues to sue FIFA over international competition. The joint complaint says it has undermined the important work of world football’s governing body and is now damaging players’ health with “too much saturation” time. But FIFA hit back, accusing some of the leagues involved of being “hypocritical” and “business-motivated” in organizing the summer international tour. In the statement made to the European Commission by the umbrella body European Union and FIFPRO Europe, it was also confirmed that the institution had made “unfair decisions” in the international competition calendar. The league and association, which includes La Liga even though it is not affiliated with the European Union, said that FIFA’s action “damages the national economy and the health of the players.” They also felt that FIFA’s role as organizer and tournament manager was inconsistent. FIFA has been accused of failing to negotiate recent reforms such as the introduction of the 32-team Club World Cup. In a joint letter, the league and the federation wrote: “The national league poses a risk to the health of the players.” It favors its own competition and commercial interests, ignores its responsibilities as a manager, and harms the economy of the national league and the health of the players. National leagues and players Their union represents the interests of all clubs and all players in the country and manages business relations by collectively deciding on the solution of problems and cannot accept unilaterally agreed international rules. “Existing law only obliges European clubs and football associations to protect football, football and personnel from dishonest decisions of FIFA.” The Chinese Super League’s decision requires FIFA and other governing bodies to carry out their administrative work in a transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and sharing manner. They claim that FIFA’s practice of rival names “minimizes these regulations”. PFA chief executive Maheta Molango said on Tuesday: “The legal action is unfortunate but is the result of neglect of the game by key stakeholders (the league and players). International governing body ‘We have seen significant changes to the structure in the development of the FA Cup, essentially challenged by the expansion of international competition. ‘ These changes affect all our members and their businesses. This is an effect we have been warning about for a long time. ‘Next summer’s Africa Cup of Nations must be postponed from the start of legal action launched last month by the French and Italian associations led by the PFA. ‘This is the result of FIFA planning an expanded Club World Cup for June and July next year. ‘ The African Cup will be held in the middle of the European season. This will have a direct and unexpected impact on the National League, the clubs and most importantly for us, the players. ‘These are significant, potentially business-changing decisions made without discussion or consultation. ‘ It is untenable to continue to debate whether this approach to the fixture calendar is valid. ‘As always, players must stop. As we see, they break. He had to stop. In May,  clubs and associations notified FIFA that they were seeking legal advice, and last month the PFA, along with FIFPRO Europe and France’s UNFP, filed a lawsuit in a Belgian court to enforce FIFA’s decision on players’ rights. Because EU law is violated. The Premier League did not separately comment on Tuesday’s complaint, but the league’s chief executive, Richard Masters, addressed the issue at an event organized by FIFPRO in May. We are starting to see the impact of the decisions taken by regional and international organizations. “The calendar becomes even more absurd with the decisions taken,” he said. ‘Nothing changes without belief. If you feel like your voice isn’t being heard, you’ll be frustrated. “We think it’s good enough – it’s a shame we’re here.” A FIFA spokesman said on Tuesday: “This moment has been approved by the FIFA Council, which includes representatives from all countries, including Europe, following wide and inclusive discussions involving FIFA and its governing body, ‘The FIFA calendar includes domestic and continental football matches and international designed to provide football matches merely as means to survive, unite and thrive together commercialism and hypocrisy and disregard for all the people of the world. ‘ This league obviously has a calendar full of friendly matches and summer travel, which often includes international travel.