FIFPro has announced its commitment to prioritizing the treatment of footballers, intending to file a complaint with the highest European authorities to address the systematic violations of players’ rights worldwide and the perceived dismantling of the football industry.
Philippe Piat, the president of FIFPro, emphasized the union’s stance against passive observation of such violations. He stated, “FIFPro is not going to stand by and watch from afar as players’ rights are systematically violated throughout the world and the football industry is dismantled.” Piat asserted that professional football players are workers and FIFPro aims to ensure they can enjoy rights guaranteed by law, akin to any other worker.
The union’s focus extends to the protection of transferred players, emphasizing the need to guarantee their rights. This initiative was prompted by the Belounis case, named after an Algerian player detained in Qatar. Upon his return to France, he challenged the Qatari royal family, advocating a reevaluation of the “Kafala” system. FIFPro has engaged with Qatari authorities, expressing the hope that football players will no longer face detention in the future. Piat acknowledged the uncertainty of the outcome, stating, “Only the future will tell us if the promises we have made will be kept.”
In response, FIFPro’s initiative received support, with the belief that success in advocating for footballers’ rights could serve as a precedent for other workers. Philippe Piat remains optimistic about football’s potential impact, suggesting that the sport could achieve more than non-governmental organizations. This effort is seen as an opportunity to establish a pathway for improved conditions not only for footballers but for workers across various industries.
