The Premier League, together with three of Europe’s most prominent domestic competitions, is set to issue a coordinated appeal 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 will join forces with the German Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga to publish a joint statement that calls for greater consultation on critical matters, most notably the worldwide football calendar. The collaborative communiqué is still being finalised, with the four leagues working through the final wording on Thursday afternoon. It remains unclear whether the statement will explicitly demand that Infantino step down, but the tone is unmistakably one of urgency and a demand for more independent oversight.
One insider familiar with the process explained: "The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A will release a joint declaration insisting that FIFA must be restructured to incorporate independent supervision and give stakeholders – including the major domestic leagues – a genuine voice in decision‑making." The move follows a legal complaint lodged almost two years ago by the European Leagues Association – an umbrella body that represents the same quartet of leagues – to the European Union. The complaint centred on FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar and alleged that the governing body had failed to involve leagues in shaping the schedule that dictates when clubs must release players for international duty. For several years, the Premier League and its continental counterparts have been locked in a protracted dispute with FIFA over what they term “calendar creep.” This phrase describes the gradual expansion of the international match schedule, which could see more frequent Club World Cups and an enlarged slate of national‑team tournaments. Such developments threaten to congest an already packed season, placing additional strain on clubs, players and broadcasters, and potentially eroding the commercial value of domestic competitions that generate the lion’s share of football revenue.
Earlier in the week, Sky News reported that Infantino, who appears increasingly confident about retaining his position when he faces re‑election next year, sent a letter to football leaders worldwide indicating his openness to discussions about reforming the organisation. In the correspondence, Infantino proposed that the FIFA Council consider commissioning an "independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements." The proposal also pledged to open a dialogue with confederations, national associations and other key stakeholders to strengthen FIFA’s decision‑making processes. The review would examine who holds authority over major initiatives, clarifying the respective roles of the president, the executive bureau, the council and the congress, while seeking ways to boost transparency and accountability throughout the organisation.
Despite these overtures, Infantino has faced fierce criticism from executives and governing bodies across the sport. One of the most contentious ideas he advanced was the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which sought to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including the World Cup – to private investors.
Among the prospective investors mentioned was Joshua Kushner, brother‑in‑law of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner.
The proposal triggered a global backlash, with numerous national associations and clubs threatening to boycott FIFA‑organised tournaments. The intense opposition forced FIFA to abandon the FFE initiative in July. In addition to the Premier League’s involvement, other major governing bodies have also called for changes to FIFA’s leadership.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF – which represents nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean – have all voiced concerns and urged reforms. In a letter obtained by Sky News, Infantino wrote to the heads of all 211 FIFA member associations and to the FIFA Council, stating that he would ask the council whether it wishes to launch an independent review of the current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and to recommend possible improvements. He further indicated a willingness to engage in talks with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on how to strengthen FIFA’s decision‑making mechanisms. Infantino stressed that any review would explore who has a say in major initiatives, the respective responsibilities of the president, bureau, council and congress, and ways to enhance transparency and accountability.
He promised not to pre‑judge the outcome of the discussions and suggested that the proposals could be examined when the council meets the following month. In his letter, Infantino underscored his duty to serve "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." However, the correspondence made no mention of a personal review of his own position. Instead, it reaffirmed his intention to remain FIFA president, arguing that his responsibilities are "larger than any individual proposal or disagreement." The Premier League declined to comment on the matter on Thursday, maintaining its usual policy of speaking through official statements rather than individual interviews. The league’s silence does not diminish the significance of the collective action being taken by the four major European competitions, which together represent the bulk of the sport’s commercial power and viewership.
The broader context of this dispute highlights a growing tension between domestic leagues, which generate the majority of football’s revenue, and the global governing body, which controls the most prestigious international tournaments. As the sport continues to evolve, the balance of power is increasingly being questioned. Leagues argue that without meaningful input into the international calendar, they risk losing control over their own product, jeopardising broadcast contracts, sponsorship deals and fan engagement.
The call for reform also reflects a wider trend in sport governance, where stakeholders demand greater transparency, accountability and stakeholder representation. Similar movements have been observed in other sports, such as basketball and cricket, where clubs and players have pushed for a louder voice in the decision‑making processes that affect their professional lives. If the joint statement from the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A gains traction, it could force FIFA to reconsider its governance model and possibly adopt a more inclusive framework.
Such a shift might involve establishing an independent oversight body, granting leagues voting rights on calendar decisions, and creating clearer mechanisms for dispute resolution between FIFA and domestic competitions. In any case, the upcoming joint declaration marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing power struggle within world football. Whether FIFA will respond with substantive reforms or attempt to maintain the status quo remains to be seen, but the pressure from the sport’s most influential leagues is unlikely to dissipate quickly. The outcome will have far‑reaching implications for the future scheduling of international fixtures, the commercial landscape of football, and the relationship between the global governing body and its most powerful domestic partners.