FIFA reform debate widens to leadership, powers and representation

THREE EARLIER INTERVENTIONS

In a DW interview published on 9 September, EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef criticised FIFA’s governance and excessive commercialisation. He stopped short of calling for Infantino’s resignation, leaving leadership decisions to football associations. The interview does not establish an EU decision.

Reuters reported on 10 September that some opponents were discussing the distribution of power within FIFA. French federation president Philippe Diallo acknowledged that reallocating presidential powers formed part of the debate. Discussion is not an agreed proposal or adopted reform.

On 14 September, FIFPRO Europe called for an independent review of the FIFA Council’s executive decision-making and a formal role for players, clubs and leagues. Its published report argues that the withdrawn investment proposal exposed weaknesses in how major decisions are developed. The union supports development funding but wants proposals shaped with the game’s stakeholders.

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THREE GERMAN VOICES ON 15–17 SEPTEMBER

Reuters reported that recent events had left former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff without confidence that FIFA was moving in the right direction. Bierhoff left that role in 2022 and spoke as a former official, not on behalf of the German Football Association.

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf told RTL/ntv that trust in FIFA’s leadership was broken and said ending what he called the ‘System Infantino’ was imperative. Sportschau’s dpa/SID report of the same interview recorded his comments about seeking majorities and lasting change while also stating that the DFB had not officially withdrawn its support. The interview does not establish a decision by the DFB’s governing bodies.

At the BIG BANG KI FESTIVAL on 17 September, DFB vice-president and DFL supervisory board chair Hans-Joachim Watzke renewed and sharpened his call for Infantino to leave office. He attributed his position to three issues: he criticised how the FIFA Peace Prize for Donald Trump had been created and awarded, questioned the handling of Folarin Balogun’s suspension, and opposed the withdrawn investment proposal as unnecessary and insufficiently discussed within FIFA. The event-origin DUP release and an ntv/dpa report record those remarks. Deutschlandfunk had already reported on 2 September that Watzke hoped Infantino would step down voluntarily, while also saying a re-election would have to be accepted. His statements do not establish a DFB or DFL governing-body decision, a voting commitment or the underlying truth of every criticism.

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WHAT HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED

These six interventions do not establish new FIFA rules, an election majority, a DFB or DFL governing-body decision, a voting commitment or a completed governance review. FIFPRO had already sought stronger stakeholder involvement in its 6 August statement. FIFA’s earlier 5 August account acknowledged process errors, promised a review reporting to the Council and maintained that its regulatory framework had been respected. It is not a new response to the September demands.

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LATER DEVELOPMENT: 21 SEPTEMBER LETTER

Infantino has since proposed a Council discussion about an external governance assessment and consultation. This later proposal is recorded separately; it does not turn the preceding reform demands into adopted rules.

The linked follow-up also covers the responses reported on 22 September from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Wales, distinguishing leadership criticism from new association decisions.

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