The Premier League joined Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A on 25 September in a coordinated demand for “fundamental” reform of FIFA’s governance, saying recent events underline the need for stronger checks and balances at world football’s governing body.
- Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A issued a joint statement on 25 September 2026 calling for "fundamental" FIFA governance reform.
- Leagues want a permanent stakeholder body, evidence-based decision-making, separation of FIFA's regulatory and commercial functions, and stronger independent oversight.
- The call follows the withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and controversies over disciplinary handling and calendar expansion.
- The leagues seek commitments from presidential candidates and want a Governance Convention convened within 100 days of a new mandate.
What the leagues have said
The four leagues issued a joint statement signed by the Premier League’s chief executive Richard Masters, LaLiga president Javier Tebas, Bundesliga CEO Marc Lenz and Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo. They described FIFA’s current governance as “not fit for purpose” and said the organisation must become “transparent, objective, proportionate and inclusive.” The leagues pointed to the now-shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal as an example of the underlying problems they want fixed.
Key demands from the leagues
- Establish a permanent stakeholder body that includes national associations, leagues, clubs and players with a meaningful role in FIFA decision-making.
- Require evidence-based decision-making for major proposals, backed by independent impact assessments published in advance.
- Create institutional separation between FIFA’s regulatory functions and its commercial activities, and strengthen the independence and powers of ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies.
- Ensure that decisions affecting the calendar, employment and competitions require the agreement of those directly affected.
Why this matters to English clubs and fans
The leagues argue that unilateral FIFA decisions can have direct effects on domestic competitions and clubs. They noted that only around one percent of the world’s professional players participate in the World Cup while domestic leagues carry the sport week to week — an argument used to justify giving leagues and clubs a stronger role when FIFA makes decisions that pause domestic competition or change the international match calendar.
Context: the FFE proposal and recent controversies
The call comes in the wake of the FFE plan, which would have created a commercial vehicle for FIFA tournaments with private investors; the proposal was withdrawn after broad opposition. The leagues also referenced the handling of individual disciplinary matters — a likely allusion to the incident in which a suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun was lifted during the World Cup after intervention at the highest political levels, an episode widely reported in the aftermath of the tournament.
Where FIFA and other stakeholders stand
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has acknowledged the need for reform and proposed an external review, but the leagues said that “surface-level, process changes” are insufficient and called for “fundamental governance reform.” UEFA has sought its own inquiries and legal routes concerning the FFE plan, and several confederations and federations have publicly criticised FIFA leadership. At the same time, some confederations and members have voiced support for Infantino.
What the leagues want from presidential candidates
The leagues invited presidential candidates to endorse their principles and proposed that, within 100 days of a new mandate, an independently chaired Governance Convention should be convened to deliver public recommendations within six months. They also urged that all presidential candidates publish reform programmes and adhere to rules ensuring FIFA resources remain neutral in elections.
Implications and next steps
The leagues’ statement turns attention to governance ahead of the next FIFA presidential election. Nominations for candidates are open until 18 November, and the election is scheduled for 18 March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. The leagues are explicitly seeking commitments from prospective presidents to adopt their proposals early in any new term.
Timeline of recent, related events (evidence-based)
- 28 July 2026 — Reporting and public debate began after the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was revealed (as reflected in league statements).
- Following July 2026 — The FFE proposal was withdrawn amid widespread opposition.
- 25 September 2026 — Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A publish joint statement calling for fundamental reform of FIFA governance (statement signed by Richard Masters, Javier Tebas, Marc Lenz and Luigi De Siervo).
- 18 November 2026 — Deadline for FIFA presidential candidacy submissions (reported date for candidate registration).
- 18 March 2027 — Scheduled date for the FIFA presidential election at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco (reported election date).
How this could affect domestic football
The leagues are seeking structural changes intended to protect domestic competitions from unilateral international decisions. If FIFA accepts measures such as a formal stakeholder body with veto powers on calendar and competition matters, clubs and national leagues could gain more influence over scheduling and employment rules that affect matchday income, player availability and broadcasting windows. The leagues argue these changes would better balance FIFA’s global remit with the operational needs of domestic football.
Areas of disagreement and unresolved questions
Sources cited by the leagues describe governance failings without assigning all responsibility to a single individual, noting the problem “goes far beyond the role of one individual.” At the same time, some confederations and member associations continue to back FIFA’s existing leadership and have called for more limited reviews. The leagues and other bodies have different proposals for reform — from independent reviews to calls for direct structural changes — and it remains to be seen which, if any, will command a majority among FIFA’s 211 member associations.
What to watch next
- Whether any presidential candidates publish reform programmes endorsing the leagues’ principles before the 18 November registration deadline.
- FIFA’s response to the leagues’ specific requests and whether the organisation adopts only a review or agrees to structural commitments.
- Actions by UEFA and other confederations, including legal steps already reported in relation to the FFE planning documents.
The Premier League and the other three major European leagues have made a consequential demand for change that places domestic competitions’ interests at the centre of FIFA reform discussion. How FIFA’s membership and prospective presidential candidates respond will determine whether the debate advances from criticism and reviews to binding constitutional change.