The European Leagues association has called for significant governance reform at FIFA, increasing the pressure on President Gianni Infantino amid criticism of his recent proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup. The statement came on a day when Infantino was reportedly meeting with senior staff in Rabat, Morocco. European Leagues, which represents premier leagues such as the English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, labeled Infantino's proposal as "dangerous," reflecting deeper concerns about FIFA's operational integrity.
In its statement, the association raised "serious questions about FIFA's governance, internal culture, and decision-making." European Leagues emphasized that FIFA now requires governance reform to ensure that all relevant stakeholders have a formal role in decisions that shape the future of soccer. They strongly criticized FIFA's consideration of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, asserting that "FIFA must not be allowed to continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions." Furthermore, they declared that, without reform, they would reject any plans for the expansion or creation of FIFA competitions.
The call for reform has garnered support from notable figures, including Portuguese soccer legend Luis Figo, who urged Infantino to resign, asserting he had "debased the office" of FIFA president. This wave of criticism for Infantino's administration was compounded by a FIFA denouncement of a British media report that claimed Infantino had promised Morocco the opportunity to host the final for the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the main co-hosts for this tournament, with Morocco expressing interest in hosting the final at the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, while Spain has two potential venues under consideration, the home stadiums of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
A FIFA spokesperson refuted the reports, stating that it is "false and misleading" to assert that the FIFA president has made any promise regarding the hosting of the World Cup 2030 final, adding that a decision would be made by FIFA in due course.
Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino, stating that the FIFA president committed a "fatal" governance failure by failing to consult senior advisers before making critical decisions. Carney noted: "Certainly I don't have confidence in Mr. Infantino," highlighting a growing discontent with Infantino's leadership, especially as elections approach in March.
This latest stream of disapproval towards Infantino's governance follows a tumultuous week with heightened scrutiny on his presidency leading up to the elections. UEFA has been particularly vocal, voting to boycott the World Cup if Infantino continues with his controversial plans to sell profits from FIFA’s top competitions through a commercial subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Even after Infantino backed down from these plans, UEFA expressed a continued loss of confidence in FIFA's leadership, suggesting this could pave the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer, CONCACAF, also criticized FIFA's leadership for failing to prioritize football.
In a notable display of division within FIFA, senior officials including Arsène Wenger and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström distanced themselves from Infantino's plans, which have strained relationships within the organization. This comes after the resignation of Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, and remarks from COO Kevin Lamour, who stated staff felt "deceived" by the president's lack of transparency.
The summit in Rabat on Wednesday was referred to as a "crisis meeting" in media reports, with expectations growing that Infantino may face a challenge in the upcoming election as he seeks a fourth and final term in office.
