Top European leagues heighten pressure on Infantino with call for major changes at Fifa
Major European football leagues have united to demand fundamental governance reforms at FIFA, criticizing President Gianni Infantino's leadership. The leagues cite concerns over exploitative practices, the congested match calendar, and a lack of constitutional boundaries.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the growing power struggle between elite club competitions and the global governing body of football.
The Premier League has joined forces with La Liga , Serie A and the Bundesliga to call for urgent governance reform at Fifa after the World Cup sell-off, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) debacle as Gianni Infantino prepares to seek a fourth term as president.
Their strongly worded statement is the latest indication that Infantino’s willingness to hold an external governance review does not go far enough, with several Fifa Council members rejecting the proposal.
In a thinly veiled attack on Infantino, the four biggest European leagues accused the Fifa president of promoting “exploitative ideas” which threaten the foundations of the global game. They also reference the Folarin Balogun red card controversy at the World Cup, calling for more checks and balances to ensure that “individual disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference”.
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