Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has taken a definitive stand against the relentless expansion of the global football calendar, asserting that the integrity and health of domestic football must not be compromised. His remarks come amidst growing tensions with FIFA, the sport’s world governing body, over its ambitious plans for new and enlarged international competitions that threaten to overcrowd the schedule.
Masters firmly rejected the notion of reducing the Premier League to 18 clubs, a measure last seen over three decades ago. He underscored his support for the overall growth of the game, but with a critical caveat: this progress should never come at the expense of established domestic competitions and the well-being of the players who participate in them.
The looming 2025-26 Premier League season, set to commence just four weeks after the conclusion of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, highlights the contentious nature of the expanding football calendar. This new tournament, championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has sparked significant division among stakeholders, most notably FIFPro, the global players’ union.
Relations between FIFA and FIFPro have reportedly deteriorated in the wake of the Club World Cup, with FIFPro’s general secretary, Alex Phillips, revealing concerns among players about potential backlash from clubs and governing bodies should they speak out. FIFPro has criticized FIFA’s “autocratic” governance, accusing the body of neglecting the essential needs and welfare of players.
FIFPro’s strong stance, articulated after a meeting of 58 player unions, emphasizes the “unacceptable” nature of a global leadership organization disregarding the basic needs of its athletes. While FIFA did convene a meeting on player welfare, agreeing to a minimum three-week off-season break, FIFPro representatives were conspicuously absent, further fueling the union’s discontent.
Richard Masters explicitly aligned the Premier League with FIFPro’s position, stating that FIFA has failed to consult adequately with key stakeholders regarding the implementation of both the expanded 32-team Club World Cup and the upcoming 48-country World Cup. This lack of proper dialogue, he insists, is detrimental to the sport’s ecosystem.
Masters stressed that his primary responsibility is to assess the impact of these new competitions on the domestic calendar. He highlighted the Premier League’s consistent 380-match, 20-club format since 1994, arguing against any redesign of the domestic schedule merely to accommodate European and global expansion. The core issue, he reiterated, is the increasing burden placed on player welfare.
The central point of contention remains the escalating number of matches players are now expected to undertake. Masters called for a genuine, top-level dialogue between FIFA and all stakeholders to collaboratively determine the future direction of football, ensuring that expansion does not inadvertently harm the very foundations of the game, particularly domestic football.
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