The leadership of four major European football leagues—the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and Germany’s Bundesliga—issued a formal call on Friday demanding comprehensive reform within FIFA. This collective move follows widespread criticism surrounding the governing body’s controversial, and now abandoned, plan to launch a commercial entity titled FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to attract private investment.
In a joint statement, the leagues emphasized that the current crisis necessitates fundamental governance changes to establish clear constitutional boundaries. They highlighted the need to ensure that disciplinary matters remain entirely insulated from political influence, stating, “We are speaking up together, as founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association, because we understand how FIFA’s relentless expansionism affects everyone.”
The push for reform arrives shortly after FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed a consultation process with national federations to address governance concerns. While the leagues acknowledged this gesture, they dismissed it as insufficient, arguing that the aftermath of the FFE project requires more than superficial process adjustments. They labeled the ill-fated enterprise as one of the most significant abuses of power in the history of the organization.
The leagues clarified that their grievances extend beyond the current leadership, noting that the systemic governance issues are not solely attributable to one individual. To rectify these problems, they have proposed the establishment of a permanent, representative body consisting of clubs, national associations, players, and leagues from both the men’s and women’s professional games. This body, they argue, must be granted a meaningful role in the decision-making process for all new initiatives.
Furthermore, the coalition called for a strict separation between FIFA’s commercial activities and its duty as the regulator and guardian of the sport. They advocate for a policy where any major proposal is preceded by a published rationale, independent impact assessments, and supporting evidence that accounts for the effects on stakeholders across the game.
The leagues are now actively calling for future FIFA presidential candidates to pledge their support for these principles within the first 100 days of their term. As it stands, Infantino remains the sole declared candidate for the election set for March 18, 2027, with the window for submission closing on November 18.
The current pressure on Infantino is not unprecedented; earlier this year, UEFA joined the AFC and CONCACAF in criticizing his leadership style, asserting that executive power should not be treated as a personal possession. Despite this pressure, Infantino retains significant backing, including support from the 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia, as well as the continental governing bodies CONMEBOL and CAF. UEFA, alongside North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a no-holds-barred joint letter against Infantino in August. However, Infantino is not without friends — 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia came out in support last month, with African football’s governing body CAF and South America’s CONMEBOL also supportive.
