Key figures from English football gathered in Manchester on Tuesday for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Awards, held at the Opera House Theatre. The event saw a significant presence from top Premier League clubs, including a contingent from Arsenal and representatives from Manchester City and Manchester United.
Arsenal was prominently represented by five players: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Declan Rice. Several of these players are contenders for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Mikael Silvestre, a former Manchester United and Arsenal defender, used the occasion to publicly call for the resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Silvestre, who is part of FIFA's Players' Voice Panel, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) expressing that "Enough is enough!" and advocating for structural change within FIFA. His call for change was reportedly shared by others, including former World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit and Lioness Lucy Bronze. Infantino is also facing pressure from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
The statement attributed to players voiced concerns that "the game we love [has] drift[ed] away from its core values under FIFA's current leadership." It further alleged that "major decisions [are] taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport." The statement highlighted that "Power has blurred the current leadership's ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football," and that silence on these issues was no longer possible.
Silvestre's intervention is notable as it comes from within FIFA's structures, as the Players' Voice Panel is a group formed by the governing body to advise on initiatives to combat racism.
Also in attendance were Manchester City trio Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, and Nico O'Reilly, with O'Reilly, a 21-year-old City academy graduate, considered a favorite for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Manchester United was represented by head coach Michael Carrick and CEO Omar Berrada. Their presence followed the reported completion of a significant transfer. The club also has Bruno Fernandes, who broke the Premier League assists record in the 2025-26 season with 21, as a leading contender for the PFA Player of the Year award. Fernandes had previously won the Football Writers' Association's men's Footballer of the Year award and was named Premier League player of the season.
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish also arrived on the red carpet with his wife, Marina. The women's game was represented by Arsenal's Alessia Russo, Mariona Caldentey, Emily Fox, and Olivia Smith, alongside former Lionesses Karen Carney, Eni Aluko, Jordan Nobbs, and Toni Duggan.
Other former male footballers present included Mikael Silvestre, Sebastian Bassong, Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic, and Kolo Toure.