The Premier League, together with three of Europe’s most influential domestic competitions, is set to issue a coordinated appeal on Friday urging an immediate overhaul of FIFA’s governance structures as the organisation grapples with a leadership crisis surrounding President Gianni Infantino. According to exclusive information from Sky News, the English top‑flight and the premier leagues of Germany, Italy and Spain are preparing a joint communiqué that will press for more inclusive consultation on pivotal matters – most notably the worldwide football calendar that dictates when clubs and national teams play. The draft statement was still being fine‑tuned on Thursday afternoon, and at the time of reporting it remained unclear whether the leagues would explicitly demand Infantino’s resignation.
One well‑placed football insider explained: “The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A are about to release a united declaration insisting that FIFA must adopt stronger independent oversight and grant stakeholders – including the major domestic leagues – a genuine seat at the decision‑making table.” The move follows a legal complaint lodged almost two years ago by the European Leagues Association – the body that represents the four leagues involved in Friday’s planned announcement – to the European Union. The complaint centred on FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar, which the leagues argue has become increasingly skewed in favour of international fixtures at the expense of domestic competitions. For several seasons now the Premier League and its continental counterparts have been at odds with FIFA over the phenomenon known as “calendar creep.” This term describes the gradual expansion of the international match schedule, including proposals for more frequent Club World Cups and enlarged national‑team tournaments.
Such changes threaten to congest the calendar, potentially eroding the commercial value and competitive integrity of the leagues that generate the lion’s share of football’s revenue. Earlier in the week, Sky News reported that Infantino, who appears confident about retaining his position when he stands for re‑election next year, sent a letter to football leaders worldwide indicating his willingness to discuss reforms within the governing body. Despite this overture, the president has faced fierce criticism from executives and associations across the sport for his controversial plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including those attached to the World Cup – to private investors. Among the prospective buyers mentioned was Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to former President Donald Trump’s daughter.
The so‑called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative was scrapped in July after a wave of global opposition and threats of boycotts against FIFA‑organised tournaments. The backlash underscored the growing unease among clubs, leagues and confederations about the commercialisation of the game and the concentration of power within a single office.
In addition to the European leagues, other governing bodies such as UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF – which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean – have also called for reforms to FIFA’s leadership and decision‑making processes. A letter obtained by Sky News this week revealed that Infantino wrote to the heads of all 211 FIFA member associations and to the FIFA Council, proposing that the council consider commissioning an “independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements.” In the same correspondence, Infantino pledged to engage in talks with confederations, national associations and other stakeholders to strengthen the organisation’s decision‑making mechanisms.
The proposed review would examine who holds authority over major initiatives, clarifying the respective roles of the president, the bureau, the council and the congress, and would aim to boost transparency and accountability throughout the system. Infantino stressed that he would not prejudge the outcome of any discussions and suggested that the proposals could be debated at the council meeting scheduled for the following month. He framed his responsibility as serving “all 211 member associations fairly, regardless of their position on any individual matter,” adding that “strong institutions do not wait for their systems to fail before considering how they can be improved.” Notably, the letter did not contain any language about reviewing Infantino’s own position.
Instead, it reaffirmed his intention to remain FIFA president, arguing that his duties are “larger than any individual proposal or disagreement.” When approached for comment on Thursday, the Premier League declined to speak. The league’s silence, however, does not diminish the significance of the collective stance being taken by Europe’s four biggest domestic competitions. By joining forces, they hope to compel FIFA to adopt a governance model that balances the interests of clubs, leagues, national teams and fans, thereby safeguarding the sport’s long‑term health.
The broader football community will be watching closely to see whether FIFA’s leadership will embrace the call for reform or continue on its current trajectory. The outcome could reshape the relationship between the world governing body and the domestic leagues that form the backbone of the global game. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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