Four European leagues demand structural reform

Executives representing the German Bundesliga, England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A issued a joint letter on 25 September 2026 calling for a comprehensive restructuring of FIFA governance. The two-page declaration, titled "To unite football, FIFA must reform", was signed by Marc Lenz, Richard Masters, Javier Tebas, and Luigi De Siervo as founding members of the European Leagues and World Leagues Association. The signatories argued that the existing administrative structure concentrates excessive regulatory, commercial, and political authority in the office of FIFA President Gianni Infantino without adequate oversight. To balance decision-making, the leagues proposed establishing a permanent representative body encompassing national associations, domestic competitions, clubs, and player unions across both men's and women's football. This proposed council would hold mandatory consultation rights and participate directly in approving new international initiatives and match calendars.

Collapse of the commercial investment vehicle

The coordinated challenge follows the abandonment of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed commercial subsidiary announced by FIFA on 28 July 2026. Under that proposal, FIFA planned to transfer 20% of commercial and broadcasting rights for future editions of the men's World Cup and the expanded Club World Cup to private outside investors. The initiative met unified opposition from continental bodies, including UEFA in Europe, CONCACAF in North and Central America, and the Asian Football Confederation, prompting Infantino to withdraw the plan during the summer. In their joint statement, the four leagues described the investment scheme as one of the most severe abuses of power in the organization's history. They dismissed Infantino's subsequent offer of an external review and consultations, arguing that surface-level process changes do not resolve the institutional flaws that allowed the commercial vehicle to be created.

Disciplinary decisions and political intervention

Beyond commercial expansion, the leagues cited concerns regarding political interference in regulatory and judicial matters, referencing disciplinary proceedings from the recent World Cup in North America. FIFA's disciplinary committee had suspended United States national team forward Folarin Balogun following a red card, which stood to exclude him from a round-of-16 match against Belgium. The suspension was subsequently overturned after United States President Donald Trump contacted Infantino to request a review of the ban, an exchange that Trump later acknowledged publicly. The leagues insisted that disciplinary bodies must operate with verified autonomy from executive pressure. German Football Association President Bernd Neuendorf echoed these concerns regarding administrative independence when addressing the governing body's recent leadership.

“The relationship of trust with Infantino and the FIFA leadership is shattered.”

Deadlines ahead of the 2027 presidential vote

The four leagues outlined specific governance benchmarks directed at candidates contesting the upcoming FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Infantino has confirmed his candidacy for another term, while UEFA is preparing to present an opposing challenger before the nomination deadline on 18 November 2026. The leagues called on all prospective candidates to commit to holding a global governance convention within the first 100 days of the next presidential term. This convention, to be led by an independent chairperson, would gather member associations and wider football stakeholders to produce a binding public report within six months. The leagues also demanded that any future tournament expansions or scheduling modifications undergo published, independent assessments evaluating their impact on player welfare, club finances, and domestic league schedules before any formal vote.