FIFPRO Criticizes FIFA President Infantino Over Governance Issues

FIFPRO's Strong Statement Against FIFA Leadership

Hoofddorp [Netherlands], August 7: The players' union, FIFPRO, has publicly condemned FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alleging a "serious abuse of presidential authority."

FIFPRO's statement highlighted the cancellation of the 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' initiative, which sought to privatize aspects of the FIFA World Cup, asserting that this move does not resolve the ongoing crisis. They emphasized that the initiative was developed in secrecy and was nearly finalized without the knowledge of the FIFA Council, member associations, players, or other key stakeholders.

According to FIFPRO, "The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) is no longer in play, but the misuse of power that led to its creation remains. What is needed are governance reforms, not mere cover-ups. The withdrawal of FFE was expected, but it does not erase the issues it exposed."

They further stated, "A plan that could have fundamentally changed the ownership and governance of the FIFA World Cup was crafted in secrecy and brought to the verge of approval without proper transparency. This is not just a governance issue; it represents a significant abuse of presidential power."

FIFPRO expressed deep concern regarding FIFA's internal update following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco. While FIFA apologized to member associations for mishandling the FFE situation, they also reaffirmed their support for President Infantino and praised FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom for their contributions to the organization’s vision.

FIFA stated, "After the Rabat meeting, the Secretary General and FIFA Management Board members expressed their unwavering support for President Infantino, who is the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations. In return, the President reiterated his full backing for the Secretary General and the FIFA Administration for their essential work in realizing his vision."

FIFPRO criticized FIFA for not addressing the core issues, stating that the organization merely reaffirmed its leadership while reducing a significant governance failure to a matter of improving processes and communications.

They pointed out that FIFA's admission of error, claiming compliance with its regulatory framework, is a reflection of the current governance issues. "A framework that allows such a significant project to be developed in secrecy and hidden from those affected until it leaks is one that requires reform, not defense," FIFPRO added.

FIFPRO also acknowledged FIFA's warning against attacks on its integrity, asserting that scrutiny of football governance is not an attack but a responsibility of all who support the game. They warned that portraying legitimate scrutiny as disloyalty would only exacerbate the concerns raised by this incident.

"No institution can regain trust in a presidency that has dismantled the very conditions that foster confidence. Trust must be earned, not demanded; authority cannot simply be asserted; legitimacy must be proven," they stated.

FIFPRO emphasized the need for structural safeguards to prevent similar issues in the future and outlined several demands:

- Establishing the Global Social Dialogue Platform as a permanent part of FIFA's governance.

- Ensuring legally binding engagement with professional football stakeholders on significant decisions affecting the game.

- Granting voting rights to professional football stakeholders on the FIFA Council and formally recognizing FIFPRO as the global representative of professional players.

- Implementing governance reforms to prevent unilateral decision-making in the future.

FIFPRO has communicated these demands to FIFA's administration, emphasizing that this situation is more than just a governance failure; it concerns the highest office in world football and how its authority has been exercised. The letter was co-signed by FIFPRO's President and the Presidents of all FIFPRO regional divisions.

"The withdrawal of FFE has averted an irreversible decision, but it has not restored the confidence that made such a proposal feasible. That trust has been fundamentally shattered and cannot be rebuilt through statements, internal reviews, or promises of improved processes. Governance reforms are now essential, but they must be seen as a future responsibility, not a way to absolve past actions. The players did not create this crisis, and they will demand that football emerges from it with stronger institutions and leadership that deserves the trust of the game," FIFPRO concluded.