Premier League joins call for major FIFA reforms

The Premier League has joined La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A in calling for fundamental reforms to the way FIFA is governed, putting further pressure on president Gianni Infantino ahead of the organisation’s next presidential election. The four leagues issued a joint statement on Friday calling for FIFA to become more transparent, accountable and inclusive.

Concerns Over FIFA Governance

The leagues said FIFA’s expansion of its activities has affected domestic competitions and other stakeholders across football. They argued that major decisions should involve leagues, clubs and players and said the sport’s global growth requires stronger governance structures.

Dispute Over Fifa Forward Enterprise

The statement follows the controversy surrounding FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed commercial structure that would have involved private investment in FIFA’s World Cup-related business. The plan was withdrawn after widespread opposition, prompting Infantino to propose an external review of FIFA’s operations.

Calls for Fundamental Reform

The four leagues said the withdrawal of the scheme should not lead only to changes in procedures. They are calling for deeper governance reforms that would establish clearer limits on FIFA’s authority and strengthen confidence in its decision-making processes.

Political and Regulatory Powers

The leagues also questioned whether FIFA’s president should hold extensive regulatory, commercial and political responsibilities without stronger checks and balances. They called for safeguards to ensure that regulatory decisions are separated from commercial interests.

Folarin Balogun Case Cited

The statement also referred to the handling of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension at the World Cup. The leagues pointed to the decision to cancel his suspension after US President Donald Trump contacted Infantino as an example of concerns about the independence of disciplinary matters.

Stakeholder Body Proposed

One of the reforms requested by the leagues is the creation of a permanent body representing key stakeholders from men’s and women’s football. They want leagues, clubs and players to have a meaningful role in FIFA’s decision-making rather than serving only in an advisory capacity.

Evidence-Based Decisions

The leagues are also calling for major FIFA proposals to be subject to independent assessments. They want decisions to be based on evidence and for their potential effects on different parts of football to be examined before implementation.

Regulatory and Commercial Separation

Another proposal calls for a clearer separation between FIFA’s regulatory responsibilities and its commercial activities. The leagues want independent ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies that operate separately from FIFA’s administration and presidency.

Previous Legal Complaint

The latest statement follows a legal complaint filed two years ago by several European leagues and the players’ union FIFPRO against FIFA at the European Commission. The complaint concerned the international fixture calendar and what the groups described as insufficient consultation.

FIFA Rejected Earlier Claims

FIFA previously rejected the allegations and accused some European leagues of hypocrisy, arguing that their concerns did not sufficiently consider football stakeholders outside Europe. The latest statement shows that disagreements over FIFA’s governance and the international calendar remain unresolved.

Infantino Seeks Re-election

Infantino has said he intends to seek another term as FIFA president. The next election is scheduled for March, with potential challengers required to emerge before the nomination deadline.

Leagues Seek Candidate Support

The four leagues said candidates for the FIFA presidency should address their governance proposals. They argued that the upcoming election should involve discussion not only about who leads FIFA but also about how the organisation should be governed.

Wider Battle Over Football Governance

The latest dispute highlights continuing tensions between FIFA and major European domestic leagues over the distribution of authority, commercial interests and the international football calendar. The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A are now pressing for structural changes they say would give affected stakeholders a stronger voice.