The Premier League, together with three of Europe’s most prominent domestic competitions, is set to issue a coordinated appeal on Friday demanding swift and comprehensive 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 the leading leagues of Germany, Italy and Spain will release a joint statement that calls for enhanced consultation on pivotal matters, most notably the worldwide football calendar.
The statement is still being finalised among the four leagues as of Thursday afternoon, and it remains uncertain whether the document will explicitly request that Infantino step down from his role. One insider familiar with the negotiations explained: "The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A intend to publish a collective declaration insisting that FIFA must introduce more independent oversight and grant stakeholders—particularly the domestic leagues—a substantive voice in the decision‑making process." The move follows a legal complaint lodged nearly two years ago by the European Leagues Association—an umbrella group that includes the four leagues planning the joint statement—to the European Union. The complaint alleged that FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar was insufficiently transparent and failed to consider the interests of the clubs and leagues that drive the sport’s commercial engine. For several seasons, the Premier League and its continental peers have been at odds with FIFA over what they describe as "calendar creep." The prospect of more frequent Club World Cups, expanded continental championships, and an increasingly congested international match schedule has raised alarms among the world’s most lucrative domestic competitions, which fear that a crowded calendar could erode player welfare, diminish broadcast revenues, and weaken the competitive balance of their own leagues.
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 a willingness to discuss reforms to FIFA’s structure. 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 president also pledged to engage in dialogue with confederations, national associations and other key stakeholders to strengthen the organization’s decision‑making processes. The suggested review would examine who currently holds authority over major initiatives, dissect the respective roles of the president, the FIFA Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and explore ways to boost transparency and accountability across the board. Despite these overtures, Infantino’s reform agenda has faced fierce opposition from several quarters of the football community.
Notably, his proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights—including those tied to the World Cup—to private investors sparked a global backlash. Among the prospective investors mentioned were Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law. The plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was ultimately abandoned in July after a wave of criticism and threats of boycotts from national associations and clubs alike.
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 called for changes to FIFA’s leadership and governance model. Their concerns echo those of the Premier League and its partners: a desire for a more balanced power structure that prevents any single entity—from the president to a small group of executives—from wielding unchecked authority. In his letter, Infantino emphasized that his duty is to serve all 211 FIFA member associations fairly, regardless of their stance on any single issue.
He argued that "strong institutions do not wait for their systems to fail before considering how they can be improved," and he positioned his own role as essential to steering the organization through turbulent times. However, the letter made no reference to a personal review of his presidency; instead, it reaffirmed his intention to remain at the helm, asserting that his responsibilities extend beyond any individual proposal or disagreement. The Premier League chose not to comment on the matter when approached on Thursday, maintaining a measured silence as the joint statement is being polished. The league’s restraint underscores the delicate balance it seeks to strike: pressing for meaningful change while preserving its own strategic relationships with FIFA and other governing bodies.
As the football world watches, the upcoming joint declaration could mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over how the sport’s global governing body should operate. If the leagues succeed in securing a seat at the table for future calendar planning and broader strategic decisions, it could usher in a new era of collaborative governance that better reflects the interests of clubs, players and fans alike. The outcome of this initiative will likely influence not only the immediate relationship between FIFA and the major European leagues but also set a precedent for how other regional competitions and clubs engage with the sport’s highest authority in the years to come. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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