The Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A have called for fundamental governance reform at FIFA, warning that the withdrawal of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal has not resolved the deeper issues exposed by the dispute.
The four leagues, representing four of Europe’s five major domestic competitions, issued a joint statement titled “To Unify the Game, FIFA Must Reform”, setting out a series of proposals aimed at restoring confidence in the governing body.
Their intervention comes amid growing disagreement between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several national football associations over the direction of the organisation.
The FFE proposal, which sought to establish a commercial subsidiary to increase the value of FIFA’s competitions and attract external investment, was withdrawn after widespread opposition. FIFA had maintained that the project was still subject to consultation and approval.
Although Infantino has since acknowledged the need to examine FIFA’s governance structures and proposed an independent external assessment of major strategic decision-making, the four leagues believe that a review of procedures alone would not address the fundamental concerns raised by the FFE episode.
“Football’s long-standing foundations have in recent years been threatened by a fundamental governance problem,” the leagues stated, arguing that the controversy demonstrated the need to examine how power is exercised within FIFA.
They further argued that the withdrawal of FFE did not remove the circumstances that allowed such a proposal to emerge in the first place. “While football’s stakeholders ultimately forced the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, the conditions that led to FFE remain,” the statement added.
The leagues therefore rejected what they described as “surface-level process changes”, insisting that FIFA needs structural reforms capable of establishing clearer limits on presidential authority and strengthening confidence in the organisation’s decision-making.
Calls For Stronger Checks On FIFA Presidency
A central concern raised by the four leagues is the concentration of regulatory, commercial and political responsibilities within the FIFA presidency.
“The wider question is whether FIFA’s president should simultaneously wield such regulatory, commercial and political power without effective checks and balances.”
Joint Statement from The Premier League, Bundesliga, Seria A and LaLiga
They also called for safeguards to ensure that disciplinary decisions remain independent of political influence.
“Fundamental governance reform is essential to restore clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA,” the statement said, adding that there must be confidence that “individual disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference.”
The leagues’ demands come as opposition to Infantino’s leadership has grown among some national associations. The French Football Federation withdrew its support for his re-election in September, while football authorities in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Wales have also publicly questioned whether the proposed FIFA reforms go far enough.
However, Infantino continues to have support within parts of FIFA’s membership and has confirmed his intention to seek another term. He announced at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in May that he would stand for re-election in 2027. The election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco.
The Demands Issued in the Statement
The four leagues have now outlined three key principles they believe should form the basis of FIFA’s governance reforms.
The first is greater stakeholder participation. They want affected stakeholders to have a “real role in decision making”, particularly on issues that directly affect leagues, clubs, players and competitions.
The second is evidence-based decision-making. According to the leagues, major FIFA initiatives should be supported by objective evidence and proper assessment of their consequences before they are implemented.
The third is a clearer separation between FIFA’s regulatory responsibilities and its commercial interests.
They called for FIFA to “protect FIFA’s regulatory role from its commercial function”, arguing that the organisation’s role as football’s global regulator must not be compromised by commercial considerations.
The leagues also stressed that FIFA’s governance debate should not be reduced to the actions of one individual.
“FIFA’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual,” they said, arguing that the future of the organisation depends on establishing structures that can withstand changes in leadership.
The statement adds another layer to the growing debate over the balance of power within world football. FIFPRO has similarly argued that the withdrawal of FFE did not resolve the governance concerns raised by the proposal, while UEFA and CONCACAF have separately called for FIFA to make greater use of its financial reserves for football development.
For the Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A, the issue is therefore no longer simply whether FFE should proceed.
Their statement places the focus on how FIFA is governed, who participates in major decisions and what safeguards exist when the interests of powerful stakeholders collide.
“The future of FIFA matters to everyone who cares about football,” the leagues said, warning that the sport’s global growth depends on foundations that command confidence across its various stakeholders.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the governance debate is likely to remain central to discussions surrounding FIFA’s next leadership cycle.
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