Global footballers’ union FIFPRO has relaunched the Global Player Council and included two South Africans, for the year 2025-27.
Left-back Terrence Mashego, who is on loan at Durban City from Mamelodi Sundowns and former Banyana Banyana striker Jermaine Seoposenwe are now part of the 37-member Council.
“Footballers with international experience comment on, discuss and influence global regulations and the strategic development of football worldwide,” stated FIFPRO.
“While national player unions are the key driver of the collective voice of footballers domestically, the council strengthens the capacity to address issues at the international level.”
The Council boasts 37 men and women footballers from across the world “to ensure player voices are central to decisions shaping the future of the game”.
Other players on the council include Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi, World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Women’s World Cup winner and Olympic champion Crystal Dunn, five-time Women’s Champions League winner Lucy Bronze and players who have captained their national team such as Chris Wood, Jackson Irvine, Caroline Weir, Elena Linari and Wataru Endo.
The Global Player Council, which was first launched in 2019, provides a platform for active players with international experience to speak directly on matters affecting their careers. It ensures perspectives from both men’s and women’s football across different continents and competitions are heard.
All council members are closely engaged with their domestic player unions, ensuring their representation at the global level is grounded in the support and guidance of their national associations.
The council will support FIFPRO and its national associations on player-centric matters such as the international match calendar, employment standards, player data, social media abuse, and more.
FIFPRO Secretary General Alex Phillips said: “All of these players have demonstrated leadership on and off the pitch and we’re proud to have them as members of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council. Footballers hold the power to shape their industry for the better. We thank these players for devoting their time and effort to advocating and defending the rights of their colleagues with such passion and courage.”
