Oct 29, V7N- Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has been appointed to lead a FIFA task force dedicated to player welfare, a response to growing concerns about the physical and mental strain on players due to congested match schedules. FIFA announced this initiative on Monday amidst increasing scrutiny regarding the impact of packed calendars on athletes' health.

In recent weeks, players' union FIFPRO, Spain's LaLiga, and a coalition of European leagues filed a complaint with European Union antitrust regulators, alleging that FIFA engages in "calendar abuse." A report from FIFPRO highlighted alarming statistics, noting that some players receive as little as 12% of the year for rest. The introduction of FIFA's new 32-team Club World Cup and other revamped international competitions is expected to further exacerbate the number of matches players must participate in each season.

The task force's mission is to evaluate and implement effective safeguards for players, considering various factors including operational, medical, regulatory, and legal perspectives. In a statement, FIFA emphasized the importance of the task force in making informed recommendations regarding players' physical and mental well-being, drawing on the latest scientific research.

Wenger, who currently serves as FIFA's chief of global football development, previously noted that there has been significant progress in player welfare, claiming it is "unrecognizable" compared to the past. The task force is expected to convene in the coming weeks to begin its work on addressing these critical issues affecting players in the sport.

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