Bundesliga and three other top European leagues call for major FIFA reforms

The letter released this Friday and signed by the heads of the Bundesliga, The Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A called for major changes to how FIFA operates – and for a greater say in decision-making.

"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," it said.

FFE private investment plan dropped

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been facing a wave of criticism since late July, when his plan for private investment through a commercial vehicle, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), emerged. The idea was for FFE to organize FIFA's tournaments while maximizing profits. 

Vigorous opposition from UEFA, European football's governing body, as well as CONCACAF (North and Central America plus the Caribbean) and the Asian Football Confederation led Infantino to quickly drop the plan.

However, the league bosses noted that this had not solved a deeper problem and appeared to dismiss a recent announcment by Infantino of an independent external review of FIFA governance as well as consultations on strengthening decision-making processes,.

'Fundamental governance reform essential'

"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," Friday's letter from the leagues said.

The last line was in reference to the widespread discontent around FIFA's handling of the Folarin Balogun case, with the United States striker's one-match ban being suspended to allow him to play a World Cup last-16 match against Belgium. While the ban was imposed by FIFA's disciplinary committee, it came after US President Donald Trump had personally called Infantino asking for a "review" of the ban – something Trump publicly admitted.

The leagues on Friday called for greater checks and balances to be implemented at FIFA, while at the same time demanding that they and others be given a say in decisions such as increases in the number of international matches.

Stakeholders 'not meaningfully involved in process'

"… when FIFA takes major unilateral decisions directly affecting us – for example, by expanding the International Match Calendar (IMC) and extending the periods in which domestic competitions must pause – the stakeholders most affected are not meaningfully involved in the decision-making process," they said.

 "A FIFA governance that concentrates unchecked regulatory, commercial and political power in a single office, while relegating affected stakeholders to mere advisory status, is not fit for purpose."

The letter, while implying much criticism of Infantino did not call for him to step down – it didn't even mention him by name.

Search for a challenger ongoing

This comes as UEFA has said it is looking for a suitable candidate to challenge Infantino in the next presidential election next March, in which Infantino has said he will run for reelection. UEFA has also called for an independent external review of how the FFE plan was developed and filed legal applications through the US courts for the disclosure of documents related to the plan. This was with a view to a possible criminal complaint being lodged in Switzerland if it is established that Infantino undervalued FFE at $20 billion (€17.5 billion).

FIFA has described UEFA's legal moves as a "smear campaign" against it but has not yet commented on Friday's letter from the league bosses.

Infantino aims to discuss his proposals at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15, a week after UEFA is to hold a meeting of all of its  55 member associations on October 8 in Berlin. 

Any person aiming to challenge Infantino in the March 18, 2027 FIFA presidential election must register as a candidate by November 18.