World football governing body Fifa has rejected claims that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup.
It comes after players' union Fifpro and the WLA called on Fifa to reschedule the tournament, due to take place next summer, amid a threat of legal action.
Fifpro and the WLA said "players are being pushed beyond their limits".
In a letter sent to Fifpro and the WLA, which has been seen by BBC Sport, Fifa says it has "a duty and responsibility" to implement an international match calendar in the "best interests of world football".
Fifa insisted Fifpro and the WLA were consulted about changes to the overall 2025-30 international match calendar, including the 2025 Club World Cup, which was confirmed by the Fifa Council in December 2022.
Although it says it is open to talks, Fifa has no intention of altering next year’s Club World Cup, saying it is "fully within our rights to set the parameters of our competitions whilst respecting the regulatory framework in place".
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the USA between 13 June and 15 July 2025.
Fifa point out that domestic member leagues of the WLA, such as the Premier League, can arrange their own competitions, noting the organisation of "international tours" in recent years.
Last summer, the Premier League hosted a six-team summer series in the USA, involving Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Aston Villa and Brentford.
Fifa also asked if Fifpro and the WLA had been in touch with other bodies, given their games "are responsible for a fractional amount of the total elite club games around the world".
“While we disagree with the tenor and content of your letter, we have nonetheless taken note of your concerns and are more than happy to invite you to discuss the matter further at a time convenient to you," Fifa added.
Latest Stories
-
Economic missteps, corruption, unemployment and governance failures caused NPP’s crushing defeat – FDAG report reveals
2 minutes -
Supreme Court, EC need complete overhaul to safeguard our democracy – Benjamin Quarshie
5 minutes -
Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor: Congratulatory message to Mahama
11 minutes -
Gabriel Kumi elected Board of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies
18 minutes -
Ga Mantse awards scholarships worth GHC100,000 to pupils in Ga communities
24 minutes -
NDC minority did not help the governance of the country – Afenyo-Markin
37 minutes -
NDC gov’t will struggle to fund social intervention programmes – Afenyo-Markin
43 minutes -
Man arrested for vandalising property at Parliament
44 minutes -
NDC’s internal struggle over who succeeds Mahama in 2028 has started – Afenyo-Markin claims
49 minutes -
NDC’s mischievous campaign and propaganda will soon expose them – Afenyo-Markin
1 hour -
African banks to remain exposed to domestic, global operating environments risks – Fitch
1 hour -
Premier League: Wolves agree deal for Pereira to become new boss
1 hour -
Fitch expects outlook for sub-Saharan African sovereigns to be neutral in 2025
1 hour -
NDC’s Joseph Yamin allegedly leads mob to seize bullion bars at PMMC Assay Centre
1 hour -
Ghana’s external position moderately stronger -IMF
2 hours