UNFP: "FIFA's hegemony over the calendar is harmful to football" (David Terrier)

"How can we make FIFA understand that its hegemony over the calendar in the service of its never-satiated appetite for money is harmful to football, footballers, fans, like FIFPro and the UNFP, like Raphaël Varane, Frederik Aursnes and other players, like more and more coaches and managers (...) Nevertheless, they continue to hope that their voices will be heard before they take part, tomorrow, in the in-depth overhaul of a fixture list that is currently constructed without any common sense," said David Terrier, vice-president of the UNFP, on its website (full text below) on 18/03/2024.

David Terrier was reacting in particular to the announcement by 28-year-old Norwegian international Frederik Aursnes (SL Benfica) that he would end his career with the national team in order to "have more time and freedom to give priority in (his) life to things other than football".

"In 2025, the AFCON will take place in Morocco, and the local organisers want it to be played in the summer. But... from 15/06 to 15/07/2025, there will be the Club World Cup (in the United States), which will involve a…