UNFP secures first victory in challenge to football's congested calendar | OneFootball

The French players’ union UNFP said in a statement on Wednesday that its complaint against France over professional footballers’ working conditions has been ruled admissible by the European Committee of Social Rights, a first in European professional sport.

The decision marks a significant step in the union’s campaign against fixture congestion. The committee accepted a collective complaint based on the European Social Charter, making UNFP the first players’ union and first sports organisation to clear this threshold.

The complaint targets the expansion of competitions and the accumulation of matches that affect players’ working conditions. It highlights excessive workload, insufficient rest, and risks to physical and mental health, as well as the erosion of collectively bargained agreements by commercially driven decisions of international bodies.

It invokes Charter principles on fair working conditions, protection of health, workplace safety, collective bargaining, and safeguarding of young workers.

With admissibility confirmed, the committee will now conduct a full examination of the case on its merits. The move advances a months-long push to address the rapid growth of the international calendar.

Source: L'Équipe