The Premier League, together with the leading domestic competitions from Germany, Italy and Spain, is set to release a coordinated statement on Friday calling for immediate reforms to FIFA’s governance structure as the organisation grapples with a deepening crisis surrounding its president, Gianni Infantino. According to Sky News, the top‑flight English league and the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A will jointly demand that FIFA introduce a more transparent decision‑making process and provide leagues and other key stakeholders with a genuine voice on matters such as the worldwide football calendar. The four leagues were still finalising the exact wording of the declaration on Thursday afternoon, and it remains uncertain whether the document will explicitly ask Infantino to step down.
One insider familiar with the negotiations explained, "The Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A will publish a joint statement insisting that FIFA must adopt independent oversight mechanisms and grant leagues a meaningful role in shaping policy." The source added that the move follows a legal complaint lodged nearly two years ago by the European Leagues Association – an umbrella body that includes the four leagues – to the European Union, accusing FIFA of mishandling the International Match Calendar. For several years the Premier League and its continental counterparts have been at odds with FIFA over what they describe as "calendar creep" – the gradual expansion of international fixtures that threatens to overload club schedules.
Proposals to stage more frequent Club World Cups and to enlarge national‑team tournaments have sparked particular alarm among the world’s most lucrative domestic competitions, which fear that an ever‑crowding calendar could erode fan interest, diminish broadcast revenues, and increase player fatigue. Earlier in the 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 reform.
The letter, however, has done little to quell criticism from senior executives and governing bodies who have long accused Infantino of pursuing a unilateral agenda. One of the most contentious proposals championed by Infantino was the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which sought to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including those tied to the World Cup – to private investors.
Among the potential buyers mentioned was Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son‑in‑law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan triggered a global backlash, with numerous national associations and confederations threatening to boycott FIFA‑organised tournaments.
In July, after weeks of protests, the FFE initiative was abandoned. The call for reform has not come from the Premier League alone. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF – the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean – have also issued statements urging changes to FIFA’s leadership and governance model.
In a letter obtained by Sky News, 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." Infantino further pledged to engage in dialogue with confederations, national associations and other interested parties about strengthening the decision‑making apparatus of the sport’s global governing body. The suggested review would examine who holds authority over major initiatives, clarifying the respective roles of the president, the FIFA bureau, the council and the congress, and would aim to boost transparency and accountability across the organisation. While Infantino stressed that he would not pre‑judge the outcome of any discussions and that any proposals could be debated at the council’s meeting next month, he also reaffirmed his intention to remain at the helm of FIFA. He argued that his duties "serve all 211 member associations fairly, regardless of their position on any individual matter" and that "strong institutions do not wait for their systems to fail before considering how they can be improved." The Premier League declined to comment on the pending joint statement on Thursday, maintaining its usual policy of speaking through official releases rather than individual interviews.
The broader context of this dispute highlights a growing tension between the world’s most powerful club competitions and the sport’s governing institutions. As leagues continue to generate the lion’s share of football’s commercial revenue, they are demanding a seat at the table that reflects their economic importance. At the same time, FIFA faces mounting pressure to modernise its governance, enhance stakeholder participation, and restore confidence among its member associations after a series of controversial proposals.
If the joint statement from the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A succeeds in galvanising broader support, it could force FIFA to accelerate its reform agenda ahead of the scheduled council meeting. Whether those reforms will include a reshaping of the presidential role, or simply introduce new checks and balances, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the relationship between the sport’s elite domestic leagues and its global governing body is at a critical juncture, and the outcome of these negotiations will likely shape the future of football governance for years to come.