The Premier League, together with three of Europe’s most influential domestic competitions, is set to release a unified appeal on Friday calling for immediate reforms to FIFA’s governance structure as the organisation grapples with a crisis surrounding its president, Gianni Infantino. According to a report from Sky News, the English top‑flight league and the leading leagues in Germany, Italy and Spain will issue a joint statement that stresses the need for broader consultation on pivotal matters, most notably the worldwide football calendar. The communiqué is still being finalised; the four leagues were still ironing out the precise wording on Thursday afternoon, and it remains unclear whether the statement will explicitly demand Infantino’s resignation. One source close to the negotiations explained, “The Premier League, the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A intend to publish a collective declaration urging FIFA to introduce stronger independent oversight and to grant stakeholders – including domestic leagues – a genuine voice in the decision‑making process.” The move follows a legal complaint lodged almost two years ago by the European Leagues Association – an umbrella body that includes the four leagues planning the joint statement – to the European Union over FIFA’s management of the International Match Calendar.
The complaint alleges that FIFA’s current scheduling practices give insufficient consideration to the interests of the world’s most valuable club competitions. For several seasons, the Premier League and its European counterparts have been at odds with FIFA over what they refer to as “calendar creep.” The prospect of more frequent Club World Cups, expanded international windows and additional national‑team tournaments has sparked alarm among the leagues that generate the bulk of the sport’s revenue and view a congested schedule as a threat to player welfare, broadcast contracts and competitive balance.
Earlier this week, Sky News reported that Infantino, who appears increasingly confident about retaining his position when the next presidential election rolls around next year, sent a letter to football leaders worldwide indicating his willingness to discuss organisational reforms. In the letter, Infantino proposed that the FIFA Council consider launching an “independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements.” He also offered to hold talks with confederations, national associations and other stakeholders to strengthen FIFA’s decision‑making mechanisms.
Infantino’s overtures come after a wave of criticism from executives and governing bodies over his suggestion to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including the World Cup – to private investors. Among the potential buyers mentioned were Joshua Kushner, the brother of former U.S.
President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner. The proposal, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was abandoned in July following a global backlash and threats of boycotts against FIFA‑organised tournaments. Other major organisations have also called for changes to FIFA’s leadership.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF – which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean – have publicly urged reforms. In a letter obtained by Sky News, Infantino addressed the heads of all 211 FIFA member associations and the FIFA Council, stating he would ask the council whether it wishes to commission an independent review of the governing body’s strategic framework and to recommend improvements.
The proposed review would examine who has authority over major initiatives, delineating the respective roles of the president, the bureau, the council and the congress, while also seeking ways to boost transparency and accountability. Infantino pledged not to pre‑judge the outcome of any discussion and indicated that the proposals could be debated when the council meets next 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 suggestion that Infantino himself might step down; instead, it reaffirmed his intention to remain FIFA president, arguing that his duties are “larger than any individual proposal or disagreement.” The Premier League declined to comment on the forthcoming statement on Thursday. The league’s silence underscores the delicate balance it seeks to maintain – pushing for structural change while preserving its own commercial interests and the broader stability of the sport.
The joint declaration by the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A is expected to amplify pressure on FIFA to act swiftly. By presenting a united front, the four leagues hope to compel the governing body to adopt a more inclusive governance model that respects the input of its most powerful stakeholders. If successful, the reforms could reshape how international match windows are allocated, how commercial rights are managed, and how future strategic decisions are vetted.
The situation remains fluid, with the exact language of the statement still under negotiation. Nevertheless, the coordinated effort signals a growing willingness among the world’s elite domestic competitions to challenge FIFA’s traditional top‑down approach and to demand a seat at the table where the sport’s most consequential policies are crafted.
As the football world watches, the outcome of this initiative could set a precedent for how governing bodies engage with leagues, clubs and other key participants, potentially ushering in a new era of collaborative governance in the beautiful game.