The Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A are expected to issue a joint call for urgent governance reform at FIFA on Friday, escalating pressure on president Gianni Infantino.
The statement is expected to demand greater consultation on major issues, including the international match calendar, as well as more independent oversight and a meaningful role for leagues and other football stakeholders in FIFA’s decision-making. It was still being finalised on Thursday, and it was unclear whether the leagues would explicitly call for Infantino to resign.
The intervention follows growing opposition to FIFA’s proposal to create a commercial subsidiary that would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments. FIFA had proposed selling up to a 20% stake in the venture to private investors, potentially raising about $4 billion.
UEFA and Concacaf strongly opposed the plan, citing concerns over transparency, due process and the lack of consultation with FIFA’s confederations and member associations. UEFA’s national associations even threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal remained active.
FIFA later abandoned the proposed sale following the backlash, with Infantino saying the plan would not proceed. However, the dispute intensified criticism of the organisation’s governance and prompted renewed calls for greater accountability.
The European leagues have also been frustrated by the increasingly crowded football calendar. The prospect of expanded international competitions and more frequent global club tournaments has raised concerns about player workload, fixture congestion and the authority of domestic competitions.
Infantino has since proposed an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework for major strategic initiatives. He has also offered discussions with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders about strengthening transparency and accountability.
The planned statement is therefore not yet a confirmed campaign to remove Infantino, but it represents an unusually united challenge from four of Europe’s leading domestic leagues and could intensify the pressure on FIFA’s leadership.
