Premier League Joins European Leagues in FIFA Reform Call

The Premier League has joined La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga in calling for fundamental reforms to the governance of FIFA, world football’s governing body.

The four major European leagues made the call in a joint statement on Friday, demanding a more transparent, objective, proportionate and inclusive governance structure at FIFA.

The leagues said football’s global growth requires stronger involvement from key stakeholders, including domestic leagues, clubs and players, in major decisions affecting the sport.

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

They also called for stronger checks and balances within FIFA and greater separation between the organisation’s regulatory responsibilities and its commercial activities. The leagues said stakeholders should have a meaningful role in decisions involving issues such as the international football calendar.

The statement comes after FIFA President Gianni Infantino withdrew a proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary that would have allowed private investors to acquire a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights. The proposal faced opposition from several football bodies before it was abandoned in July.

The four leagues described the governance concerns as extending beyond one individual and called for structural changes to FIFA. They said, “Fundamental governance reform is essential to restore clear constitutional boundaries within FIFA, including confidence that individual disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference.”

The development follows Infantino’s proposal earlier this week for an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework and consultations with member associations and other stakeholders on decision-making.

The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga are all members of European Leagues, which has also raised concerns over FIFA’s handling of the international match calendar and called for greater stakeholder input.