governance reforms at FIFA, intensifying pressure on president Gianni Infantino ahead of key meetings next month.
In a statement titled ‘To Unify the Game, FIFA Must Reform,’ the four leagues urged the world football governing body to introduce stronger checks and balances, more independent oversight, and a greater role for stakeholders in major decisions.
The statement marks the first public intervention by the leagues since the collapse of FIFA’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to raise up to $4.2 billion through a commercial subsidiary backed by external investors.
While Infantino has proposed an independent review of FIFA’s governance structure and broader consultations with member associations, confederations, and stakeholders, the leagues argued that limited procedural changes would not address deeper concerns.
‘Football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem, whereby FIFA’s president has actively promoted exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them,’ the leagues said.
‘FIFA’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual. The wider question is whether FIFA’s president should simultaneously wield such regulatory, commercial, and political power without effective checks and balances.’
Leagues seek stronger oversight
The four leagues are calling for clearer constitutional boundaries within FIFA, stronger independent oversight and a meaningful role for domestic leagues and other stakeholders in decisions affecting the global game.
Their intervention follows a legal complaint filed nearly two years ago by the European Leagues Association with the European Union over FIFA’s handling of the international match calendar.
European leagues have repeatedly expressed concern over what they describe as ‘calendar creep,’ with the expansion of competitions such as the Club World Cup and international tournaments placing increasing demands on players and domestic schedules.
The latest intervention comes as Infantino prepares to seek a fourth term as FIFA president at the organisation’s election in Morocco in March 2027.
FIFA governance debate intensifies
Infantino has responded to growing criticism by proposing an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework for major strategic initiatives, alongside consultations with FIFA’s 211 member associations and six continental confederations.
The review is expected to be discussed at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15.
The debate over FIFA’s governance structure is expected to dominate football politics in the coming months, with UEFA’s 55 member associations due to meet in Berlin on October 8 ahead of the FIFA Council session in Zurich.