FIFA says it has reached consensus with several players’ unions on minimum rest standards

By Samuel Petrequin

FIFA says several players’ representative groups and the sport’s governing body have reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should have a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season.

It was unclear, though, whether the consensus would lead to a binding agreement since FIFPRO, the sport’s global players’ union, did not take part in the discussions.

FIFA did not immediately say which groups attended the talks on the eve of Sunday’s Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea, mentioning “representatives of several player unions from around the world.”

The tournament was held during the European offseason and has faced criticism from unions, as an increased focus on player welfare has been leading to calls for mandatory rest periods and a greater emphasis on player safety during matches.

Days before the start