Premier League joins LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A in calling for FIFA reform, stronger checks and greater stakeholder involvement

The Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A called for fundamental FIFA reform on Friday, September 25, 2026, demanding stronger checks and balances and a greater role for football stakeholders in decisions made by world football’s governing body.

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The four major European leagues issued a joint statement amid growing scrutiny of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the governing body’s decision-making structure.

They said FIFA’s expanding commercial and regulatory activities made changes to its governance increasingly necessary.

The leagues said they wanted FIFA to become more transparent, objective, proportionate and inclusive, arguing that football’s global growth could not be sustained if its institutional foundations were weakened.

“Our sport cannot grow globally if its foundations are undermined,” the leagues said.

The statement comes days after Infantino proposed an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework following criticism surrounding the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

The initiative had envisaged a new commercial structure involving outside investment in FIFA competitions.

FIFA said in July that the proposal was still subject to consultation and approval, but the project was subsequently withdrawn following opposition from several football stakeholders.

Infantino has since proposed that FIFA consider an independent review of its governance arrangements and a broader consultation on decision-making.

The FIFA Council is expected to consider those proposals at its meeting in Zurich on October 15.

The four leagues, however, said the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal did not resolve the wider concerns that had prompted the controversy.

They argued that FIFA needs reforms extending beyond changes to individual procedures, including clearer constitutional boundaries and stronger safeguards around the concentration of authority.

“The FIFA president has now acknowledged the need for reform, but it is not enough for surface-level, process changes to be explored,” the leagues said.

They also called for a clearer separation between FIFA’s regulatory responsibilities and its commercial activities, as well as meaningful participation by stakeholders affected by major decisions.

The concerns have emerged against a broader backdrop of tensions between FIFA and European football authorities over the global football calendar, commercial strategy and the distribution of power within the sport.

The leagues also raised concerns about the independence of disciplinary decisions, amid scrutiny surrounding the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.

Reports have linked the subsequent review of his suspension to a conversation between Infantino and United States President Donald Trump.

The four leagues stressed that their concerns were not simply about Infantino personally.

“FIFA’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual,” they said.

They questioned whether the FIFA president should be able to exercise regulatory, commercial and political responsibilities without sufficiently strong institutional checks or the agreement of affected stakeholders.

Their intervention adds significant pressure to an already active debate about the future structure of FIFA, particularly with the organisation preparing for its next presidential election in March 2027.

Infantino is seeking another term, while potential challengers have until November 18 to enter the race.

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FIFA has been approached for comment on the joint statement and the concerns raised by the four leagues.