FIFA players’ group challenges Infantino as pressure on president grows

25/08/2026

GENEVA, Aug 25: A group of current and former footballers has stepped up its criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling for change as pressure on the world governing body’s leadership continues to grow.

Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, a member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Committee, published a statement on X titled “Enough is enough,” calling for a greater role for players and fans in the governance of football.

The statement was backed by several prominent current and former players, including England international Lucy Bronze, France’s 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former England goalkeeper David James.

The intervention follows Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell stakes in football competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The players said they shared the concerns of millions of football fans and accused FIFA’s current leadership of moving the sport away from its core values.

They also criticized the decision-making process at FIFA, saying major decisions had been taken without adequate consultation with players or consideration of supporters’ views.

“Change is necessary,” the statement said, arguing that the current leadership had become unable to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. It added that recent developments had made it impossible for players to remain silent.

The group called for “structural change” within FIFA and urged the governing body to give players and fans a genuine and direct role in football’s administration.

Infantino is already facing pressure from several continental football organizations over the controversy surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.

UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has said he expects Infantino either to resign or face a challenger in next March’s election. Several national associations, including England, Wales and Scotland, have also withdrawn their support for the FIFA president.

Silvestre’s involvement adds an internal challenge to the growing criticism. FIFA established its 16-member Players’ Voice Committee to monitor and advise on the organization’s efforts to combat racism in football.