FIFA is set to initiate discussions led by Arsène Wenger aimed at enhancing player welfare, with potential considerations for limiting match schedules during busy periods and establishing mandatory breaks in the off-season.

On Monday, FIFA announced that a task force under Wenger’s leadership will convene in the coming weeks. This group will consist of representatives from the global players’ union FIFPRO, various clubs and domestic leagues, as well as national federations. These organizations were previously part of a stakeholder committee that FIFA dissolved in 2021.

The newly formed panel will address issues from operational, medical, regulatory, and legal viewpoints. However, FIFA did not provide specific details regarding the timelines or methods for decision-making.

The move comes as FIFA faces increasing legal pressure to engage more effectively with its stakeholders, highlighted by a formal complaint submitted to the European Commission in Brussels this month by officials from unions and leagues. This complaint referenced European competition law concerning FIFA’s expansion of new men’s tournaments, which has intensified the workload for elite athletes, leading some to contemplate striking.

According to FIFA, the task force will provide recommendations based on the latest scientific studies related to players’ physical and mental health.

FIFA has an established collaboration with the World Health Organization, focusing on best practices for managing head injuries in sports. Wenger, who has been serving as FIFA’s head of global soccer development since 2019, is at the helm of this initiative.