Premier League Joins European Leagues in FIFA Reform Demand

Premier League and Europe's top leagues demand FIFA governance reform over 'exploitative ideas'

The Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A have issued a joint statement calling for fundamental FIFA governance reform, accusing president Gianni Infantino of promoting "exploitative ideas" and demanding a new transparent structure ahead of the March 2027 presidential election.

Who: Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A — founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association
What: Joint statement demanding FIFA governance reform, three core commitments, and calling on presidential candidates to publish reform programmes
When: FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027
Why: Backlash over FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme and Folarin Balogun disciplinary case
Signed by: Richard Masters (Premier League), Marc Lenz (Bundesliga), Javier Tebas (LaLiga), Luigi De Siervo (Serie A)

What was said

"Football's longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem, whereby FIFA's president has actively promoted exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them."
— Joint statement from Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A

"And while football's stakeholders ultimately forced the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, the conditions that led to FFE remain."
— Joint statement

"The FIFA president has now acknowledged the need for reform, but it is not enough for surface-level, process changes to be explored in the aftermath of FFE - fundamental governance reform is essential to restore clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA, including confidence that individual disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference."
— Joint statement

"The future of FIFA matters to everyone who cares about football, because our sport cannot grow globally if its foundations are undermined."
— Joint statement

"FIFA's governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual. The wider question is whether FIFA's president should simultaneously wield such regulatory, commercial and political power without effective checks and balances, including the agreement of affected stakeholders."
— Joint statement

"More than a decade ago, following criminal proceedings involving senior football officials, FIFA's own reform process sought to address these issues - yet, once again, football has suffered one of the biggest abuses of power in FIFA's history."
— Joint statement

"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."
— Joint statement

"Now is the moment to decide not only who will lead FIFA, but also how FIFA should be led. Leagues have a crucial role to play in this process, and we want to ensure that the voice of every league is heard."
— Joint statement

The statement represents an unprecedented co-ordinated intervention from the four most commercially powerful domestic leagues in world football. By framing the issue as structural rather than personal, the leagues are attempting to force governance reform onto the agenda regardless of who wins the 2027 presidency.

The reference to "one of the biggest abuses of power in FIFA's history" is pointed. It signals that the leagues view the current crisis as comparable to the corruption scandals that triggered FIFA's own reform process over a decade ago.

The numbers

4 major European leagues signed the joint statement: Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A
3 core commitments demanded by the leagues
March 2027 — date of the next FIFA presidential election
1 year — length of suspension handed to Folarin Balogun regarding his ban

The FFE scheme and why it collapsed

This summer, Infantino was forced to abandon a plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup after a backlash which led to UEFA pursuing legal action. The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme would have seen private investors acquire minority stakes in the commercial rights of FIFA's flagship tournament — a proposal that provoked fierce resistance from confederations, leagues and member associations.

In a letter to FIFA members earlier this week, Infantino said he was open to an independent external review of the plan. He also stated that he should be allowed to continue leading FIFA because his responsibilities are "larger than any individual proposal or disagreement".

The leagues argue that while the FFE scheme was withdrawn, the underlying governance conditions that allowed it to be proposed in the first place have not been addressed. Their statement makes clear that they see withdrawal of FFE as a tactical retreat rather than a structural fix.

The Balogun case and political interference

The leagues' demand for disciplinary matters to remain "demonstrably insulated from political interference" refers to FIFA's controversial decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium at the World Cup, despite having been sent off in the previous game.

It emerged that USA President Donald Trump had spoken to Infantino about the USA striker's ban before it was suspended for one year. The leagues use this episode as evidence that FIFA's disciplinary processes are vulnerable to external political pressure.

This specific case has become emblematic of the broader governance concerns the leagues are raising. By citing it directly in their statement, they are connecting a concrete disciplinary controversy to their structural reform demands.

The three core commitments demanded

The leagues have outlined three specific commitments they want to see implemented at FIFA:

Stakeholder involvement: National associations, leagues, clubs and players should be involved in FIFA's decision-making processes
Evidence-based decisions: Decisions must be backed up by published explanations
Separation of functions: A clear separation between FIFA's commercial functions and its "role as a regulator and guardian of the game"

These three demands reflect a comprehensive critique of how FIFA currently operates. The first addresses representation and voice. The second addresses transparency and justification. The third addresses conflicts of interest inherent in FIFA's dual role as both commercial operator and governing regulator.

Why the Premier League is leading this charge

The Premier League's involvement is significant. As the world's most commercially successful domestic league, its voice carries substantial weight in global football governance debates. Richard Masters' signature alongside Marc Lenz, Javier Tebas and Luigi De Siervo represents a unified front from the four wealthiest European leagues.

These leagues have a direct financial interest in how FIFA governs the game. Decisions about tournament expansion, the international match calendar, and commercial rights deals all affect domestic league revenues and player availability. The leagues argue that FIFA's "relentless expansionism" threatens their own competitions.

The statement is also a political manoeuvre ahead of the 2027 election. By calling on candidates to "publish their own reform programme", the leagues are attempting to set the terms of the debate and force presidential hopefuls to commit to specific governance changes before they can secure support.

What happens next

The immediate focus will be on how Infantino and FIFA respond to this joint statement. The FIFA president has already indicated openness to an independent external review of the FFE plan, but the leagues are demanding far more than a review of one proposal.

The longer game is the March 2027 presidential election. The leagues have made clear they will use their collective influence to shape the debate and possibly to support candidates who commit to their reform agenda. Potential challengers have been put on notice: publish a reform programme or face opposition from Europe's most powerful leagues.

The leagues have also established their position as founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association, giving them a formal platform from which to pursue these demands. This is not a one-off statement — it is the opening of a sustained campaign to restructure FIFA's governance.

Talking points

Does the Premier League have the moral authority to lecture FIFA on governance when its own ownership and financial regulations face constant criticism?
Can Infantino survive until 2027 without making meaningful concessions, or will this statement embolden a serious challenger?
The Balogun case shows political interference in disciplinary matters — is that an isolated incident or evidence of deeper systemic problems?
Are the leagues genuinely concerned about governance, or are they protecting their own commercial turf from FIFA's expansion into club football?

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Premier League criticising Gianni Infantino?

The Premier League, alongside Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A, issued a joint statement accusing him of promoting "exploitative ideas" and calling for fundamental FIFA governance reform.