The Premier League, together with three of Europe’s most prominent domestic competitions, is set to release a unified appeal on Friday demanding immediate reforms to FIFA’s governance structure as the organization grapples with a crisis surrounding its president, Gianni Infantino. According to a report from Sky News, the English top‑flight league and its counterparts in Germany, Italy and Spain will issue a joint statement that calls for a more inclusive decision‑making process, especially on matters such as the worldwide football calendar. The statement is still being fine‑tuned among the four leagues as of Thursday afternoon, and it remains unclear whether it will explicitly ask Infantino to step down.
One insider familiar with the discussions explained, "The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A intend to publish a collective declaration insisting that FIFA must adopt stronger independent oversight and grant key stakeholders – including the major domestic leagues – a genuine voice in the organisation’s strategic choices." The move follows a legal complaint lodged nearly two years ago by the European Leagues Association – an umbrella body that includes the four leagues planning the joint statement – to the European Union. The complaint challenged FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar, arguing that the governing body has overstepped its remit and failed to consult the clubs and leagues that drive the sport’s commercial engine. For some time now, the Premier League and other leading European competitions have been at odds with FIFA over the phenomenon known as “calendar creep.” The prospect of more frequent Club World Cups, expanded continental qualifiers and additional international tournaments has alarmed the leagues, which fear that a congested schedule could erode player welfare, diminish broadcast revenues and undermine the integrity of domestic competitions.
Earlier in the week, Sky News reported that Infantino, who appears increasingly 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 organisational reforms. In that correspondence, he proposed an "independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives" and pledged to consult confederations, national associations and other stakeholders on how to strengthen decision‑making processes.
Infantino’s reform agenda, however, has been met with fierce criticism from various quarters of the football industry. One of the most contentious proposals was the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which sought to sell a 20 % stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including the World Cup – to private investors.
Among the potential buyers mentioned were high‑profile figures such as Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to former President Donald Trump’s daughter. The proposal triggered a global outcry and threats of boycotts, prompting FIFA to abandon the plan in July after a storm of opposition. In addition to the European leagues, other governing bodies have also called for changes at the top of FIFA. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF – which represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean – have all voiced concerns about the current leadership model and urged reforms that would increase transparency, accountability and stakeholder participation.
In the letter seen 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 external review" of the governance framework for major strategic initiatives and to recommend possible improvements. He also offered to hold talks with confederations, member associations and other interested parties on ways to reinforce FIFA’s decision‑making structures. The proposed review would examine who has a say in major initiatives, clarifying the respective roles of the president, the bureau, the council and the congress, and would explore mechanisms to boost transparency and accountability across the organisation. Infantino stressed that he would not pre‑judge the outcomes of any discussion and 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 made no reference to a personal review of his own tenure; 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 matter on Thursday, maintaining its usual policy of speaking through official statements rather than individual interviews. The league’s silence underscores the delicate balance it seeks to strike between advocating for the interests of its clubs and preserving a working relationship with the global governing body. The joint statement from the four leading European leagues is expected to amplify calls for a more collaborative governance model at FIFA, one that respects the commercial realities of domestic competitions while safeguarding the sport’s global development.
By demanding a seat at the table for leagues, the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A aim to ensure that future decisions on the international calendar, tournament formats and commercial rights are made with a broader consensus, reducing the risk of unilateral actions that could disrupt the football ecosystem. As the debate unfolds, stakeholders across the football world will be watching closely to see whether FIFA will embrace the proposed reforms or double down on its existing structures. The outcome could have lasting implications for the balance of power between the sport’s governing bodies and its most valuable commercial partners, shaping the future of both club and international football for years to come.