European Leagues extends EU complaint to women's calendar

European Leagues, which represents 53 professional divisions and 1,328 clubs in 34 countries, said on Tuesday it had extended its European Commission complaint. Its members include the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. The original complaint was filed in October 2024 by European Leagues, Fifpro and LaLiga over the men's calendar announced in 2023.

The extension covers "FIFA's abusive conduct regarding the women's international match calendar and related women's football regulatory decisions". The group said FIFA's conduct threatens the growth and financial sustainability of women's professional leagues and risks player health and wellbeing. It said the Commission must act to ensure EU law is respected and that women's professional football is not determined unilaterally by FIFA.

Conflict of interest alleged

The submission details the same pattern of conduct identified in the original complaint, European Leagues said. FIFA holds conflicting roles as governing body and competition organiser, creating a conflict of interest, and uses its regulatory power to favour its own competitions and commercial interests, according to the group.

Fifpro was part of the original complaint but withdrew after FIFA agreed in June to negotiate over match calendar issues. European Leagues added 14 women's divisions in June, including the Women's Super League and the Scottish Women's Premier League.

FIFA's response

A FIFA spokesperson said the FIFA Council unanimously approved the women's international match calendar for 2026-29 on 15 May 2024 after consultation with European and global leagues. The calendar cut international windows from six to five, reducing travel and disruption, the spokesperson said. FIFA said it prefers dialogue to legal action and pointed to a transfer reform agreement with Fifpro. It said it had not been officially notified about the extension and could not comment further. Conversations will begin on the next iteration of the March calendar, the spokesperson said.

Pressure on Infantino

The escalation comes as Infantino faces pressure from three continental confederations over an abandoned plan for private investment in a company running FIFA competitions. The plan foresaw FIFA Forward Enterprise, 20% owned by private investors. UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, then dropped the threat after assurances the plan would not go ahead. It has filed US legal papers seeking evidence from FIFA and warned of a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland; FIFA called that a "smear campaign". FairSquare has complained to FIFA's ethics committee, backed by more than 100,000 supporters, alleging Infantino breached political neutrality rules in dealings with US president Donald Trump.

What happens next

European Leagues said the Commission must now act. The Commission has been contacted for comment. Infantino's re-election bid is set for March.