Full Breakdown
European Leagues Extends EU Competition-Law Complaint to FIFA’s Women’s Calendar
9/8/2026, 10:31:57 PM
Core Event
On September 8, 2026, the European Leagues association submitted an expanded competition-law complaint to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition. The filing adds the women’s international match calendar and related regulatory decisions to the original 2024 grievance that targeted FIFA’s handling of the men’s calendar. European Leagues accuses FIFA of “abusive conduct” toward the women’s game, arguing that the governing body’s dual role as regulator and competition organizer creates a conflict of interest that endangers the growth, financial sustainability, and player health of women’s professional leagues.
Background & Context
European Leagues first lodged a complaint with the Commission in October 2024, together with FIFPRO Europe and LaLiga, alleging that FIFA abused its dominant position under EU competition law when setting the men’s International Match Calendar, including the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. In June 2026 the association welcomed 14 women’s leagues—among them England’s Women’s Super League and the Scottish Women’s Premier League—into its membership, prompting the decision to broaden the legal challenge to cover women’s calendar issues.
Official Statements & Responses
The association calls on the Commission to enforce EU law and ensure that women’s football is not decided unilaterally by FIFA.
Verbatim Quotes
- “FIFA’s conduct threatens the growth and financial sustainability of women’s professional leagues, and risks player health and wellbeing,” — European Leagues
- “As in men’s football, FIFA consistently uses its regulatory power to favor its own competition and commercial interests to the detriment of women’s football and of European national leagues,” — European Leagues
What’s Next
The European Commission must now review the expanded complaint under EU competition rules. No specific deadline has been announced, but the outcome will influence how FIFA engages with women’s leagues on future calendar decisions.
