Major European Leagues Urge FIFA for Urgent Governance Reforms

Major European football leagues, including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, and Spanish La Liga, have called for urgent reforms to the governance system of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The four leagues released a joint statement Friday, urging enhanced independent oversight within FIFA and a genuine role for football stakeholders in decision-making. These demands arise from dissatisfaction over the expanding international match calendar and crucial decisions on football's future and development made without adequate consultation with domestic leagues. The French Ligue 1 did not join this European initiative. The action follows past criticisms of FIFA's leadership, led by Gianni Infantino, regarding a project to sell a 20% stake in its commercial rights, including World Cup rights, to private investors. That project faced strong European objections and was subsequently halted. FIFPro, the European Club Association, and La Liga had previously filed a joint complaint with the European Commission in November 2024, citing disputes over international football calendar management.