Four leading European leagues demand structural reform at FIFA

The English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga have called for broad governance reform at FIFA, saying the organisation needs clearer constitutional boundaries and stronger safeguards against political interference. In a statement sent to AFP on Friday, the leagues said the governing body’s crisis had been highlighted by the now-shelved plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial company open to private investors. They described the proposal as a serious abuse of power and said reform should go beyond procedural changes.

The leagues proposed a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs and players from both the men’s and women’s game. They said this body should receive full information about new initiatives and have a meaningful role in FIFA decisions. They also called for major proposals to be supported by published evidence, a defined rationale and an independent assessment of their effects on players, clubs, leagues and supporters.

FIFA’s role as football regulator and guardian, they said, should be protected from its commercial activities. The statement followed FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal for consultations with national federations on governance reform. The leagues said that acknowledgement was insufficient and invited future presidential candidates to endorse their principles within the first 100 days of the next mandate.

Infantino is currently the only declared candidate for the March 18, 2027 election, with nominations open until November 18. The leagues said FIFA’s governance problems extended beyond one individual.