Joint statement from Premier League, Bundesliga, LALIGA and Lega Calcio Serie A
Key Points:
- Football's foundational structures, supported by players, fans, clubs, and leagues worldwide, are threatened by governance issues within FIFA, particularly under its current president who has promoted exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding the sport.
- Despite the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, the underlying governance problems remain, necessitating fundamental reforms to establish clear constitutional boundaries and protect disciplinary processes from political interference.
- The concentration of regulatory, commercial, and political power in the FIFA presidency lacks effective checks and balances, undermining the interests of key stakeholders such as domestic leagues, clubs, and players who are often excluded from decision-making processes.
- Founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association call for a new FIFA governance structure that includes meaningful stakeholder representation, evidence-based decision-making, and separation of FIFA's regulatory and commercial roles to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
- They urge FIFA presidential candidates to endorse these reform principles, promote fair election practices, and convene an independent Governance Convention to restore trust and strengthen FIFA as a globally accountable institution.