The chief executives of Europe’s four leading football leagues have jointly called for a comprehensive reform of the governance structure of FIFA, the sport’s global governing body. Richard Masters of the English Premier League, along with his counterparts from Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A, released a statement expressing concern over FIFA’s current leadership and management practices.

The joint declaration centers on criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s recent proposals, which the league heads say have undermined the integrity of football’s governing framework. According to the statement, Infantino’s approach has involved what they describe as “exploitative ideas,” rather than measures aimed at protecting the sport’s foundational principles.

“Weaknesses in governance have posed a significant threat to the sport,” the league executives said. They emphasized that the current moment presents an opportunity to reconsider not only the individual occupying the presidency of FIFA but also the overall system through which FIFA is governed. The statement advocates for a model in which leadership strength is balanced by clear accountability mechanisms.

The Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, and Serie A are among the most influential and commercially successful football competitions globally, and their unified stance signals substantial pressure on FIFA to reconsider its governance practices ahead of upcoming elections within the organisation.

While the leagues did not provide specific details on the governance reforms they envision, their joint commentary suggests a demand for increased transparency, improved checks and balances on executive power, and stronger safeguards against policies that could be perceived as prioritising commercial interests over the sport’s long-term health.

FIFA and President Infantino have yet to issue a detailed response to this call for change. The organisation has historically defended its leadership’s decisions as being aimed at globalising football and enhancing the game’s reach, though it faces growing scrutiny amid ongoing debates about governance and ethics in international sports administration.