Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga unite to demand FIFA governance overhaul

The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga have joined forces to demand a fundamental overhaul of FIFA’s governance, warning that “football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem.”

In a strongly worded joint statement, the four leagues outlined four core demands directed at football’s global governing body, declaring: “This must change now for the sake of football.”

The leagues are calling on FIFA to establish a permanent stakeholder body that includes national associations, leagues, clubs and players from both men’s and women’s football. Under their proposal, this body would need to give its agreement before FIFA could make decisions on the calendar, employment conditions, competitions and the sport’s core commercial assets.

The statement also demands that any major FIFA proposal be accompanied by a clearly defined rationale, independent assessment and supporting evidence — all published before any decision is taken — with final decisions requiring published explanations covering the impact on players, clubs, leagues and supporters.

A third pillar of the reform call focuses on separating FIFA’s regulatory function from its commercial operations. The leagues argue that ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies must have appointments, budgets and powers that are “genuinely independent of the FIFA administration and of the presidency” in order to preserve trust and accountability.

The statement arrives amid heightened scrutiny of FIFA president Gianni Infantino following reports that plans to sell stakes in the World Cup had been explored. Those revelations prompted calls for Infantino’s replacement, though he remains in post.

Looking ahead to the next presidential election, the leagues urged all candidates to endorse their principles and, within the first 100 days of a new mandate, to convene an independently chaired Governance Convention representing member associations and the wider football community, with a mandate to report publicly within six months.