On the same day that Infantino reportedly met with senior staff in Rabat, Morocco, European Leagues—which comprises prominent tournaments like the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A—criticized the proposal as “dangerous” and indicated deeper issues regarding the operations of soccer’s global governing body.
They raised “serious questions about FIFA’s governance, internal culture, and decision-making.”
“Now more than ever, FIFA needs governance reforms that guarantee all relevant stakeholders a formal role in shaping the future of our game.”
In the statement, European Leagues opposed the potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams, asserting that “FIFA must not be permitted to make unilaterally disruptive decisions.”
They stated that until reforms are implemented, they would refuse to support the “expansion or creation” of FIFA competitions.
European Leagues is the latest group to criticize Infantino’s plans amidst a tumultuous week, which has cast doubt on his presidency ahead of elections in March.
UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, exerted significant pressure by voting to boycott the World Cup if Infantino proceeded with the controversial plans to commercialize profits in its flagship competition through a subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) that would organize tournaments.
Despite Infantino’s retreat, UEFA expressed a loss of confidence in FIFA’s leadership—possibly setting the stage for a challenge to his presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) also stated that FIFA leadership had “ceased to prioritize football.”
On Tuesday, top FIFA officials Arsène Wenger and secretary-general Mattias Grafström distanced themselves from the FFE plans, highlighting divisions within the organization, particularly after Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned last week and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour mentioned that staff felt “deceived” by the president’s lack of transparency.
Wednesday’s summit in Rabat was reported as a “crisis meeting,” amid rising expectations that Infantino may face a challenge in next year’s election, where he aims to secure a fourth and final term in office.
