The English Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A said in a joint statement that FIFA’s governance structure is “not fit for purpose,” Anadolu Agency reported
The leagues called for greater involvement from leagues, clubs, players and national associations in FIFA’s decision-making process.
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“Football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem, whereby FIFA’s president has actively promoted exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them,” the leagues said, referring to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
They pointed to the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project this summer, arguing that although football stakeholders succeeded in stopping the proposal, the conditions that led to it remain.
Infantino faced strong opposition over the abandoned FFE plan, which would have involved selling up to a 20% stake in a company controlling commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
The four leagues also called for safeguards to prevent political interference in individual disciplinary matters, saying that “surface-level” changes following the FFE controversy would not be enough.
Their call for safeguards comes after another controversy this summer involving FIFA’s decision to suspend a US player’s World Cup ban following a request from US President Donald Trump to Infantino to review the player’s red card.
Under the European leagues’ proposals, FIFA would establish a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs and players from both men’s and women’s football, giving those stakeholders a meaningful role in major decisions.
The leagues also called for major FIFA proposals to undergo independent assessment and for safeguards separating the organization’s regulatory responsibilities from its commercial activities.
“Football needs FIFA to be a strong institution. But strength must be matched by accountability,” the statement said.
Infantino is expected to seek reelection as FIFA president at the FIFA Congress in March in Rabat, Morocco.
