Major European football leagues demand FIFA reform following governance crisis

On September 23 and 25, 2026, tension escalated between European football authorities and FIFA regarding the organization's leadership. During the Portugal Football Summit, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin criticized the lack of unity and transparency within global football, alluding to the previously abandoned plan to sell 20% of FIFA's commercial rights to private investors. Although this project was canceled in July following widespread opposition, Ceferin emphasized that trust in the sport’s governing body remains damaged.

Subsequently, on September 25, the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga issued a joint statement demanding structural reforms. The leagues accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of encouraging abusive initiatives rather than protecting the sport's foundations. They argued that the underlying conditions that allowed for the controversial 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' (FFE) project still persist. While Infantino has proposed consultations with all 211 member federations to address governance concerns ahead of his re-election campaign, the four major leagues have dismissed these measures as insufficient, calling for the immediate re-establishment of clear legislative boundaries for the organization.