FIFA: Players wary about speaking out says global union Fifpro after Club World Cup:

Top footballers feel unable to speak out despite Fifa ignoring their "basic needs", according to world players union Fifpro.

Alex Phillips, the general secretary of Fifpro, which represents 66,000 men's and women's players around the world, believes they are worried about potential backlash from clubs and governing bodies.

Players have raised concerns with Fifpro about their lack of rest, caused by the number of games they play - especially given this season's expanded Club World Cup.

Chelsea's final game of the season was their victory in the final of the Club World Cup on 13 July - only 35 days before the start of their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace.

"Players are wary of speaking up because they don't have the power," said Philips.

"Individually they might have wealth, the top 1%, but 99% of players don't have power apart from via their union or association.

"Before the Club World Cup I was speaking to some of the top stars and they were saying they hadn't had a rest for 'X' amount of time, and one said I only get a rest when I get injured. Others were resigned and cynical about speaking up.

"Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'we think the Club World Cup is so great' because their employers tell them to do it and it's part of their job.

"You have this contradictory situation where players can't speak up. They are in an invidious position. They can speak up but it could have consequences."

In response, Fifa said it was "extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by Fifpro leadership".

"The game deserves unity, not division. Players deserve action, not rhetoric," it added in a statement.

"Fifa will move forward together with players and those who really want the best for football. It is up to Fifpro to answer this call."

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