European Leagues Demand FIFA Reforms, Pressure Infantino

On September 25, 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino came under increased pressure as Europe's four main football leagues called for sweeping reforms of the world football governing body. The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and Germany's Bundesliga demanded that measures be adopted to ensure "disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference."

The four leagues issued a statement highlighting that FIFA has faced scrutiny since Infantino's now-shelved proposal to create a commercial arm open to private investment, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). They emphasized the need for fundamental governance reform to restore constitutional boundaries within FIFA and to maintain confidence that individual disciplinary matters are insulated from political interference.

The leagues stated, "We are speaking up together, as founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association, because we understand how FIFA’s relentless expansionism affects everyone." This statement came shortly after Infantino proposed a consultation of national federations to reform FIFA's governance in response to the backlash from the FFE plan, which aimed to introduce private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups.

The four leagues labeled the FFE initiative as "one of the biggest abuses of power in FIFA’s history" while also attributing FIFA's governance problems to more than just Infantino. They proposed establishing a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs, and players from both men's and women's football to ensure informed decision-making and stakeholder engagement in FIFA's processes.

The leagues also stressed that any significant proposal from FIFA must come with a clear rationale, supporting evidence, and an independent assessment published beforehand to evaluate the impact on all stakeholders and football development. They called for the protection of FIFA’s role as the regulator and guardian of the game amid its commercial endeavors.

Additionally, they sought candidates for the FIFA presidency who will endorse these principles within the first 100 days of the next presidential mandate. Currently, Infantino is the sole candidate for the FIFA presidential election slated for March 18, 2027, with candidacy submissions open until November 18, 2026.

In August, UEFA, alongside North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a scathing joint letter against Infantino, stating that "leadership in football is not a possession," while Infantino found support from the hosts of the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia, and backing from Africa's CAF and South America's CONMEBOL.