Premier League and La Liga lead FIFA reform calls after ‘exploitative’ plan
Europe's top leagues, from England, Spain, Italy and Germany, add pressure on Gianni Infantino after World Cup plan.
The Premier League and three other top European leagues have called for governance reform of FIFA, following Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
A joint statement with leagues from Spain, Italy and Germany accused FIFA’s president of actively promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them”.
The Premier League is football’s richest and most popular league. Its collaboration with Europe’s other leading leagues adds to the growing pressure on Infantino, who plans to stand for re-election despite losing the support of many national federations over his controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary.
FIFA president since February 2016, Infantino caught the ire of member nations with a now-abandoned plan to sell 20% of FIFA’s commercial rights in the World Cup to private investors. The deal, which could have been worth a reported $4.2b, led to UEFA and CONCACAF, among others, calling for Infantino’s replacement.