Top leagues demand fundamental FIFA governance reforms

Abimbola Joseph

The Premier League has joined La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A in demanding fundamental reforms to FIFA’s governance, arguing that greater transparency and stronger checks on power are needed.

In a joint statement on Friday, the four leading European leagues called for a FIFA structure that is more transparent, objective, proportionate and inclusive.

The leagues said FIFA’s expanding commercial and administrative activities increasingly affect football stakeholders worldwide, making stronger governance safeguards essential.

“Our sport cannot grow globally if its foundations are undermined,” they said.

Their statement came days after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed an external review of the organisation’s operations amid controversy over his now-withdrawn plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

The four leagues described the controversy surrounding the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme as “one of the biggest abuses of power in Fifa’s history”.

They argued that the withdrawal of the scheme had not addressed the governance concerns that led to the controversy.

“While football’s stakeholders ultimately forced the withdrawal of the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, the conditions that led to FFE remain,” the leagues said.

They acknowledged Infantino’s recognition that reforms were necessary but said changes could not be limited to procedural adjustments.

The leagues called instead for “fundamental governance reform” to establish clearer constitutional boundaries within FIFA.

They also demanded safeguards to ensure that disciplinary decisions affecting individual players remain free from political interference.

The statement appeared to refer to the reported intervention over the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, following an alleged request by US President Donald Trump to Infantino for the ban to be reviewed.

The leagues stressed that their concerns extended beyond Infantino personally.

“FIFA’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual,” they said.

They questioned whether the FIFA president should simultaneously exercise regulatory, commercial and political powers without effective checks and balances or the consent of affected stakeholders.

The Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A called for a governance framework that strengthens transparency and accountability while giving football stakeholders a meaningful role in decision-making.

FIFA has been approached for comment on the statement and the allegations raised by the four leagues.