SOCCER
La Liga joins three major leagues in call to curb FIFA’s powers
Four European leagues want binding input on FIFA decisions and safeguards separating its regulatory and commercial roles.
La Liga joined the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A on Friday in demanding changes to FIFA’s governance, including a formal role for leagues, clubs and players in decisions affecting the international calendar.
Their September 25 statement argued that abandoning FIFA Forward Enterprise had left the underlying problems unresolved. The leagues objected to the presidency’s combined regulatory, commercial and political authority and said procedural changes would be insufficient.
They proposed a permanent body representing national associations, leagues, clubs and players. Groups directly affected by decisions on employment, competitions, the calendar and major football assets would have to agree to those decisions under the proposed structure.
The leagues also want major initiatives supported by published evidence and independent impact assessments. A third demand would separate FIFA’s regulatory responsibilities from its commercial interests, with independent appointments, budgets and powers for ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies.
Presidential candidates were urged to endorse the principles and convene an independently chaired governance convention within the first 100 days of the next mandate. The convention would publish its findings within six months under the leagues’ proposal.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on July 31 that FIFA Forward Enterprise would not proceed. In FIFA’s published statement, he said the project had been intended to strengthen national associations, particularly those in countries where financial support was most needed.
Infantino said the initiative had always depended on majority support from member associations and consultation with the council, confederations and other stakeholders. He acknowledged that it had created divisions that no longer served its stated purpose and said he wanted to bring interested parties together again.
European football officials had already demanded an independent external review in August. A statement published by UEFA on August 27 said delegates had received written confirmation from FIFA that the project had been permanently withdrawn and would not return in another form.
According to that UEFA statement, the project would have sold an interest in the World Cup to outside investors. European delegates called for access to documents, communications and decision-making records as part of an external review, and authorized further efforts to seek institutional reform.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with La Liga / FIFA / UEFA.
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