Calls for FIFA reforms have intensified after the Premier League joined La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A in demanding fundamental changes to the way world football’s governing body is run. The four major European leagues have criticized the concentration of regulatory, commercial and political power within FIFA and called for greater transparency, independent oversight and stronger representation for football’s key stakeholders.
The joint statement comes days after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed an external review of the organization’s governance following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, which had triggered widespread opposition.
FIFA Reforms Needed After FIFA Forward Enterprise Dispute
The four leagues said they were speaking out because they understood how FIFA’s “relentless expansionism” affects domestic competitions and the wider football ecosystem.
Their statement argued that football cannot continue to grow globally if the foundations of its governance are weakened. They described the FIFA Forward Enterprise dispute as one of the organization’s biggest governance controversies and said the conditions that led to the proposal still needed to be addressed.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan would have involved the creation of a company to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with a private investor potentially acquiring a 21% stake. The proposal was ultimately withdrawn following opposition from various football stakeholders.
The leagues argue that withdrawing the scheme alone does not resolve the wider concerns surrounding FIFA’s decision-making structure.
They said Infantino’s acknowledgement that reform is needed should be followed by fundamental changes rather than limited procedural adjustments. Among their concerns is the need for clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA and greater confidence that disciplinary matters remain protected from political interference.
That point was linked to the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup after US President Donald Trump contacted Infantino and asked for the striker’s ban to be reviewed.
Premier League Joins Calls for Greater FIFA Oversight
The Premier League, together with La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A, has called for the creation of a permanent body representing key stakeholders across men’s and women’s football.
The proposed body would include leagues, clubs and players and would have a meaningful role in FIFA’s decision-making process rather than serving only in an advisory capacity.
The leagues are also calling for major FIFA proposals to be subjected to independent assessments examining their potential impact on affected stakeholders.
Another central demand concerns the separation of FIFA’s regulatory and commercial responsibilities. The four leagues want what they describe as robust institutional safeguards, alongside genuinely independent ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies.
Their argument is that FIFA’s regulatory authority should not be used to advance commercial objectives without sufficient consideration of the effects on national competitions and their stakeholders.
The statement said governance that concentrates unchecked regulatory, commercial and political power in one office is not fit for purpose.
FIFA has been approached for comment.
European Leagues Have Long Raised FIFA Concerns
The latest intervention is not the first dispute between Europe’s major domestic leagues and FIFA.
Two years ago, Europe’s top leagues, together with players’ union Fifpro, filed a legal complaint against FIFA with the European Commission. They argued that FIFA had abused its dominant position through its approach to expanding the international fixture calendar and had failed to properly consult affected parties.
FIFA rejected those accusations and accused some European leagues of hypocrisy, arguing that they were acting without sufficient consideration for other parts of the global game.
The latest statement indicates that the disagreement over governance remains unresolved. The four leagues argue that their legal action resulted from what they consider a flawed framework in which FIFA can combine regulatory authority with commercial objectives without adequately accounting for the economic and social sustainability of national competitions.
The leagues believe this structure needs to change.
Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, has previously been outspoken about the FIFA Forward Enterprise controversy. Last month, he described the episode as a “self-inflicted wound” and said Infantino had “pressed the self-destruct button”.
Infantino Faces Re-election as Reform Debate Grows
The governance dispute comes at a significant moment for Infantino, who has confirmed that he intends to stand for re-election as FIFA president in March.
Three confederations have called for him to step down, while potential opponents have until 18 November to identify an alternative candidate.
The four leagues want candidates for the FIFA presidency to address their governance proposals and have urged leagues to play a meaningful role in determining how the organization is run.
Their statement said the current moment provides an opportunity to consider not only who should lead FIFA, but also how FIFA should be led.
The letter was signed by Masters, Bundesliga CEO Marc Lenz, La Liga president Javier Tebas and Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo.
The demands therefore extend beyond the future of one FIFA president. The leagues are calling for structural changes involving stakeholder representation, independent assessment of major decisions, separation of commercial and regulatory functions, and independent oversight mechanisms.
With Infantino’s proposed external review now on the agenda and the FIFA presidential election approaching, the debate over governance is likely to remain a major issue in world football. The four European leagues have made clear that they want fundamental changes, rather than reforms limited to the procedures surrounding individual decisions.
