The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and Germany's Bundesliga have jointly called for a reform of FIFA, the governing body of football worldwide. This move comes in response to a proposed plan, since shelved, to create a commercial company open to private investors. The four leagues emphasized the need for clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA, ensuring individual disciplinary matters are insulated from political interference.
The proposed plan, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to bring private investment into the men's and women's World Cups. However, it was met with significant backlash, with many criticizing it as an abuse of power. The four leagues stated that fundamental governance reform is essential to restore confidence in FIFA's decision-making processes. They also stressed that the governance problem within FIFA goes beyond the role of one individual.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently proposed a consultation of national federations to reform the body's governance. However, the four leagues believe that surface-level changes are insufficient, and a more profound transformation is required. They proposed the creation of a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs, and players from across men's and women's football.
This new body would be fully informed about new initiatives and have a meaningful role in FIFA's decision-making process. The four leagues also called for any major FIFA proposal to begin with a clearly defined rationale, supporting evidence, and an independent assessment. This assessment should be published in advance of any decision, covering players, clubs, leagues, and supporters.
The four leagues also emphasized the need to protect FIFA's role as a regulator and guardian of the game from its commercial activities. They called for candidates for the FIFA presidency to endorse their principles within the first 100 days of the next presidential mandate. Currently, Infantino is the sole candidate for the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2027.
UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have expressed concerns about Infantino's leadership, issuing a joint letter against him in August. However, Infantino has received support from 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia, African football's governing body CAF, and South America's CONMEBOL.
The four leagues' call for reform has significant implications for the future of football governance. The proposed changes aim to increase transparency and accountability within FIFA, ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders are represented. The outcome of this development will be closely watched by football fans and stakeholders worldwide.
Key points
- The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and Germany's Bundesliga have jointly called for FIFA reform.
- The four leagues proposed the creation of a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs, and players.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces opposition to his leadership from several football governing bodies.
