A coalition of current and former footballers has publicly voiced opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that "change is necessary" within the global football governing body. The group issued a statement asserting that "Power has blurred the current leadership's ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football," and that "Recent events have made silence impossible."
The statement advocates for unity across all levels of the sport to support "structural change" at FIFA, emphasizing the need for players and fans to have a "real, direct say" in how football is managed.
Infantino has been under considerable pressure in recent weeks, facing backlash from several confederations. This discontent has been amplified by the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) controversy. UEFA, European football's governing body, has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, with its president, Aleksander Ceferin, calling for Infantino's resignation or a challenge in the upcoming March election. Several national football associations, including those in England, Wales, and Scotland, have also withdrawn their support for Infantino.
The involvement of figures like former French international Mikaël Silvestre, who is part of FIFA's 16-strong Players' Voice Panel, signals a challenge emerging from within the organization itself. The panel was established by FIFA to monitor and advise on efforts to combat racism in football.
However, Infantino has also garnered support. Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Association and a former Barcelona striker, has defended Infantino, stating he does not believe the FIFA leader has "done anything wrong." Eto'o told CNN that he remains convinced the FIFA Forward project could have been "incredible" for African nations, aiming to rebalance football's power structure and retain talent on the continent. He credited Infantino with changing football by providing opportunities to nations previously excluded from the World Cup and accelerating development for African federations.