Former footballer Silvester ‘Lolo’ Goraseb has returned from attending the FIFA Professional Players Consultation Forum held recently in Rabat, Morocco, where global football leaders and players’ representatives gathered to deliberate on the future of player welfare and the professionalisation of the game.
Goraseb described the forum as eye-opening, noting that participants also had the opportunity to attend the U/17 Women’s World Cup Final hosted in Morocco.
“We are initiating engagements and briefings with Namibian football players, the Namibia Football Association (NFA), government, and all relevant stakeholders to consolidate the way forward. We, including the media, should all unite to ensure that the rights and wellbeing of football players and all athletes, especially the youth, are consolidated to professionalise sports in Namibia, Africa and globally,” he said.
At the forum, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and several top FIFA officials held fruitful discussions with players’ unions from across the world.
The gathering was also attended by members of the Players’ Voice Panel, including honorary captain George Weah, and several football legends and world champions from both the men’s and women’s game.
The meeting brought together representatives from 30 players’ unions, following constructive exchanges that began in July in New York, United States, in the context of the FIFA Club World Cup discussions.
Infantino reiterated FIFA’s commitment to advancing player welfare and improving working conditions globally.
“At FIFA, we remain committed to further enhance player welfare and working conditions across the world by implementing concrete and meaningful measures with a view to improve football for the future,” said Infantino.
He added that “this is evident through the substantial investment that FIFA will be making through the FIFA Fund for Professional Players, and through other opportunities to engage via the various FIFA bodies, as well as other important initiatives agreed at this initial FIFA Professional Players Consultation Forum gathering. We would like to thank all the players’ unions which have proactively approached FIFA to engage in open discussions. FIFA wants to work with all those genuinely interested in progress and respectful dialogue, our door is always open to all views that respect these values.
This is a real movement for the players and we are happy about that.”
One of the first points of agreement reached was the formal creation of the FIFA Professional Players Consultation Forum, which will act as a global platform to advance the collective interests of professional footballers.
Several key initiatives were endorsed by FIFA and the unions, including measures for player’s rest and recovery, such as a minimum of 72 hours between matches, a 21-day off-season rest, one rest day per week, and considerations for long-haul travel and climatic conditions.
FIFA also announced the establishment of a USD 20 million FIFA Fund for Professional Players for the 2026–2029 period, aimed at supporting players who are unable to recover outstanding salaries due to financial challenges faced by their clubs.
Furthermore, players’ unions will now have representation on FIFA committees, ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels.
Development support mechanisms will also be created to strengthen players’ unions globally with an emphasis on youth training, education, and women’s football.
A legal working group between FIFA and the unions will address contractual standards, transfer regulations, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Additional meetings between FIFA and the unions are scheduled for the coming months.
Before departing for Morocco, Goraseb also participated in the Global United Football Charity initiative, which focuses on empowering vulnerable communities through various community projects supported by the Gondwana Collection and Care Trust, Cavima Fishing Paratus, Playtime Namibia, and Global United FC international legends. -Additional reporting from FIFA