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, a move that reflects growing unease over the ongoing controversy surrounding President Gianni Infantino. According to exclusive information obtained by Sky News, the top‑tier league in England will join forces with the leading leagues of Germany, Italy and Spain to release a joint statement that calls for increased consultation on pivotal matters – most notably the worldwide football calendar – and for a more transparent decision‑making process that gives leagues a genuine seat at the table.
The wording of the declaration is still being fine‑tuned. As of Thursday afternoon the four leagues were still negotiating the final language, and it remained unclear whether the document would explicitly demand Infantino’s resignation.
Nonetheless, a senior source within the football world confirmed that the statement will stress the need for "greater independent oversight of FIFA and a meaningful role for stakeholders, including the major domestic leagues, in shaping the sport’s strategic direction." The initiative follows a legal complaint lodged almost two years ago by the European Leagues Association – an umbrella body that includes the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A – with the European Commission. The complaint challenged FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar and alleged that the governing body had failed to provide sufficient transparency and fairness to its member leagues. For several years the Premier League and its continental counterparts have been locked in a dispute with FIFA over the phenomenon known as "calendar creep." This term describes the gradual expansion of the international match schedule, which threatens to crowd out domestic competitions with an increasing number of Club World Cups, expanded continental tournaments and more frequent national‑team windows.
League officials argue that such a congested calendar would undermine the quality of club football, strain player welfare and erode the commercial value of their competitions. Earlier in the week, Sky News reported that Infantino, who appears increasingly confident about retaining his position when the FIFA presidential election comes around next year, had sent a letter to football leaders worldwide indicating his willingness to discuss reforms. In that correspondence he 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." Infantino’s outreach comes after a wave of criticism from senior figures in the football industry and from several confederations.
One of the most contentious proposals to emerge from his tenure was the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which sought to sell a 20 % stake in FIFA’s commercial rights – including the lucrative World Cup broadcasting and sponsorship packages – to private investors. Among the potential buyers mentioned were high‑profile financiers such as Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to former President Donald Trump’s daughter. The plan triggered a global backlash, with numerous national associations and clubs threatening to boycott FIFA events.
The proposal was ultimately abandoned in July after the outcry intensified. The call for reform has also been echoed by the continent‑wide governing bodies.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF – which represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean – have all issued statements urging changes to FIFA’s leadership and governance model. In the letter that Sky News obtained, Infantino wrote to the heads of all 211 FIFA member associations and to the FIFA Council, pledging to ask the council whether it wishes to launch the independent review he mentioned.
In the same note, Infantino offered to open a dialogue with confederations, national associations and other key stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen the decision‑making apparatus of FIFA. He indicated that the review would examine who currently has authority over major initiatives, the respective responsibilities of the president, the executive bureau, the council and the congress, and how transparency and accountability could be improved across the board.
He emphasized that he would not prejudge the outcome of any discussions and that any proposals could be debated when the council meets in the coming month. "My responsibility is to serve all 211 member associations fairly, regardless of their position on any individual matter," Infantino wrote. "Strong institutions do not wait for their systems to fail before considering how they can be improved." Notably, the letter did not contain any language suggesting that Infantino was willing to step down.
Instead, it reaffirmed his intention to continue as FIFA president, arguing that his duties are "larger than any individual proposal or disagreement" and that he remains committed to steering the organization through a period of significant change. The Premier League declined to comment on the matter when approached on Thursday, opting to let the joint statement speak for itself.
The league’s silence underscores the delicate balance it seeks to maintain – pushing for reform while preserving a constructive relationship with FIFA, which remains the sport’s ultimate authority. The broader context of this showdown highlights a shifting power dynamic in world football. While FIFA retains ultimate control over the sport’s global governance, the major domestic leagues have grown into economic powerhouses with revenues that dwarf many national associations. Their collective voice, therefore, carries weight that can no longer be ignored.
The joint appeal from the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A signals a new era in which leagues are prepared to challenge FIFA’s traditional top‑down approach and demand a seat at the governance table. If the leagues’ demands are met, we could see a restructuring of the FIFA Council to include permanent seats for representatives of the top domestic competitions, a clearer delineation of authority over the international match calendar, and stronger safeguards to protect player welfare amid an increasingly congested schedule. Such reforms could also introduce independent oversight mechanisms – perhaps in the form of an external audit committee or a governance watchdog – tasked with ensuring that FIFA’s strategic decisions are made transparently and with input from all key stakeholders. Conversely, should FIFA resist these changes, the risk of further fragmentation looms.
Already, some clubs have hinted at the possibility of forming alternative international competitions that operate outside FIFA’s jurisdiction, a scenario that could fundamentally alter the landscape of global football. The stakes are high, and the outcome of this negotiation will likely shape the sport’s governance model for years to come.
In summary, the Premier League’s upcoming joint statement with its European peers marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over FIFA’s governance. By calling for greater consultation, independent oversight and a more inclusive decision‑making process, the leagues are pushing for reforms that could redefine the balance of power between the world governing body and the domestic competitions that generate the majority of football’s revenue and fan engagement. The world will be watching closely as FIFA’s Council convenes next month to consider Infantino’s proposed review and the leagues’ demands for change.