Traditionally, almost 100% of players in some Eastern European countries had self-employed contracts. Following pressure from FIFPRO and others, this changed in 2018 when a new European Union directive enabled them to claim the employment rights of a normal worker.

The Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) and the Malta Football Association (MFA) reached a landmark agreement over the conditions of players representing the women’s national football team.

FIFPRO is aware of a move by the Liga Panameña de Fútbol to impose a salary cap for each of the top 12 clubs that will have a serious and negative impact on the wages of players.

Security, stability and a more professional working environment, those are the main accomplishments for men and women footballers in Australia enjoy with their new collective deal.

Sweden international Jessica Wik addresses the perceived incompatibility between professional football and motherhood, and hopes that FIFA’s maternity regulations, drafted collaboratively with FIFPRO’s involvement will be fully implemented soon in her country.

Austrian player union Vereinigung der Fussballer (VdF) created a special player survey to improve their working conditions. Sturm Graz goalkeeper Jorg Siebenhandl explains how this survey has helped advance the quality of working conditions.

The rules relating to players include a minimum of two, four or eight weeks’ leave for adoption and at least eight weeks for the partners of mothers in same-sex relationships. In other developments, players have the right to take time off for health issues related to menstruation and there is a new clause that encourages a family-friendly environment at federation level for players with children.

Two English footballers outsmarted a person pretending to be a scout, who offered them a trial and a contract with a Portuguese club.

Last Friday, Slovenian player union SPINS announced the agreement during a press conference. It concluded an almost four-year push by the players and their union to get the deal arranged.

Players from across Europe gathered in Bilbao ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final to share best-practice and insight on increasing the level of professionalism in women’s domestic football as part of the Raising Our Game Europe 2025 initiative.

Raising Our Game Europe 2025, also known as ROGE25, is an initiative designed to increase the level of professionalism in women’s domestic football by elevating standards across different European nations. The project will host a player, union, and stakeholder panel event in Bilbao ahead of the Champions League final as part of FIFPRO’s Women’s Football Summit.