Luo Ti: The Serie A head opposes the new FIFA regulations because it will affect the time in the TV broadcast contract

FIFA recently issued a new rule requiring at least 72 hours between two games and players must rest for at least three weeks after the season ends, but the head of Serie A opposes the implementation of the new rule.

However, the World Professional Football Players Association (FIFPRO) was not satisfied with this, and the organization's secretary-general Alex Phillips made it clear in an interview with the Financial Times that increasing the number of games is not because the players want more money, but for other reasons. He refuted this statement by citing an anonymous member: “I will only rest when I am injured.”

At the meeting to formulate these new regulations, FIFPRO did not participate, but was held in the presence of trade union representatives from Mexico, Spain and Tajikistan. In addition, the Europa League Association did not attend the meeting, although they were directly affected by the first provision, namely the 72-hour interval between matches.

In the past, there have been many debates between coaches, clubs and Serie A. For example, former Roma head Mourinho had a dispute with Serie A head Andrea Butti over the team's close match arrangements between the UEFA Cup and the domestic league.

The latter is the person in charge of the schedule, so Butty's answer to whether Italian football can implement this agreement is "impossible". His explanation is simple: if the 72-hour game interval rule is adopted, especially when domestic events intersect with European events, it will affect the game schedule specified in the TV broadcast contract.

For example, if Fiorentina competes in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night, the next game can only be scheduled on Sunday night or Monday night, but Monday night is usually the time for the national team training, so it is not feasible. There is only one conclusion: this rule may apply to future World Cups, but not to domestic leagues.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the 2026 World Cup will be held in Mexico, Canada and the United States, and the entire schedule will be 37 days, one week more than the previous World Cup in Russia (28 days) and Qatar World Cup (32 days). This means that the players' holiday will be further compressed, and the domestic league will also lose an additional week.