Four of Europe's most powerful football leagues, including England's Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, and Spain's LaLiga, have called for sweeping reforms at FIFA. They are demanding stronger checks and balances, clear constitutional boundaries, and greater separation between FIFA's regulatory and commercial functions. This move comes amid growing scrutiny over FIFA's leadership, particularly President Gianni Infantino's abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments.
The four leagues released a joint statement, expressing concerns that FIFA's governance has been threatened by a fundamental problem. They argue that the president has promoted exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them. Although FIFA's Forward Enterprise scheme was withdrawn, the conditions that led to it remain. The leagues emphasize that football's foundations, sustained by dedicated players, fans, clubs, and leagues, are at risk if FIFA's governance issues are not addressed.
Relations between FIFA and Europe's top leagues have deteriorated in recent years, largely due to disputes over the expansion of international competitions. Clubs and domestic leagues have complained that the growing number of FIFA-organized events strains players and threatens the value of domestic competitions. Infantino has sought to address these concerns, proposing an independent external review of FIFA's governance framework for major strategic initiatives.
Infantino's proposal also includes consultations with confederations, associations, and other stakeholders over strengthening decision-making. However, several European federations quickly dismissed his move, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin issued a stern assessment. Ceferin's remarks were seen as a clear reference to the proposal to sell up to a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights to private investors, a project that was dropped in July.
The four European leagues are calling on FIFA to give affected stakeholders a real role in decision-making, establish a permanent body representing key stakeholders, and ensure evidence-based decision-making. They also want to protect FIFA's regulatory role from its commercial function. The leagues argue that FIFA's governance problem goes beyond the role of one individual and that the president should not wield excessive regulatory, commercial, and political power without effective checks and balances.
Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino as FIFA president. Ceferin is one of the leading figures in the challenge to Infantino, who is facing increasing pressure to step down. Infantino's abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments triggered a backlash across world football, and he is seeking reelection next year.
The leagues' statement adds to growing scrutiny of FIFA's governance, with calls for fundamental reform to restore clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA. The future of FIFA matters to everyone who cares about football, as the sport cannot grow globally if its foundations are undermined. FIFA has been contacted for comment, but no response has been made.
Key points
- Europe's top leagues demand sweeping reforms in FIFA's governance.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces growing pressure to step down.
- UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin rules himself out of the running to replace Infantino.
