The Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A have joined forces to call for fundamental governance reform at FIFA, arguing that football’s global governing body needs greater transparency, stakeholder involvement and clearer separation between its commercial and regulatory functions.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters, Bundesliga CEO Marc Lenz, LaLiga president Javier Tebas and Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo signed a joint open letter titled “To unify the game, FIFA must reform.”
The four leagues called for national associations, leagues, clubs and players to have a greater role in FIFA’s decision-making processes. They also want decisions to be evidence-based, with the reasoning behind major decisions made public.
A third priority is a clearer separation between FIFA’s commercial activities and its role as football’s regulator and governing body.
Fallout from FIFA Forward Enterprise
The statement comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed commercial and events-focused subsidiary that would have allowed private investors to acquire a stake in the business.
The plan, revealed shortly after the 2026 World Cup, envisaged FIFA selling a 21% stake in FFE and raising approximately $4.2 billion based on a potential $20 billion valuation.
FIFA said the proceeds would have supported a new funding mechanism for its 211 member associations, known as the FIFA Fast-Forward Programme.
The proposal triggered opposition from UEFA and European football stakeholders. UEFA and its member associations had even threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions before receiving assurances that the private investment scheme would not be revived.
The controversy also exposed divisions within FIFA. Former chief operating officer Kevin Lamour criticised FFE as “the project of one person” and argued that FIFA’s administration had not been adequately informed about the initiative. Lamour subsequently left the organisation.
Leagues demand structural change
The European leagues argue that abandoning FFE does not resolve the underlying governance concerns.
In their joint letter, they said Infantino’s acknowledgement of the need for reform was welcome, but argued that changes limited to procedures would not be sufficient.
The leagues are calling for stronger checks and balances around FIFA’s regulatory, commercial and political powers, as well as safeguards ensuring that disciplinary matters remain independent from political influence.
Their intervention also comes ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
The four leagues have called on prospective candidates to publish their own reform programmes, shifting the debate beyond the identity of FIFA’s next president to how the organisation itself should be governed.
Infantino plans to seek another term
Infantino has indicated that he intends to stand for a fourth term as FIFA president despite the controversy surrounding FFE.
In a letter to FIFA members earlier this week, he said he was open to an independent external review of the FFE proposal and argued that his responsibilities extended beyond any individual proposal or disagreement.
The European leagues, however, are framing the issue as a broader question about FIFA’s institutional structure.
Their intervention puts governance, stakeholder representation and the separation of commercial and regulatory responsibilities at the centre of t