A group of current and former footballers has called for change at Fifa, increasing pressure on president Gianni Infantino amid growing criticism of his leadership.
Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, a member of Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, issued a statement on X on Monday. He titled the post “Enough is Enough!”.
Several high profile former players have since shared the statement on social media. They include England defender Lucy Bronze, France’s 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit and former England goalkeeper David James.
The statement follows Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The players said they “share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world”.
They also criticised the way Fifa makes major decisions. The statement said:
“We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership.
“For too long we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.”
The players then called for major changes at the governing body.
“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.
“Recent events have made silence impossible.”
The statement also urged people across the game to unite behind structural reform. It called for support from “grassroots to the top of the game” and demanded a “real, direct say” for players and fans in how football is governed.
Infantino faces growing opposition
Infantino has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks following the Fifa Forward Enterprise controversy. Several football confederations and national associations have raised concerns about the direction of the governing body.
Uefa has even threatened to boycott Fifa competitions. Its president, Aleksander Ceferin, has said he expects Infantino to resign or face a leadership challenge at an election next March.
Several national football associations have also withdrawn their support. England, Wales and Scotland are among those whose governing bodies have expressed opposition.
Silvestre’s involvement adds further significance to the criticism because he is part of a Fifa-created body. The 16-member Players’ Voice Panel was established to monitor and advise on efforts to tackle racism in football.
However, Infantino still has prominent supporters within the game.
Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, who now serves as president of the Cameroonian Football Association, has defended the Fifa president and said he does not believe Infantino has “done anything wrong”.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Eto’o said:
“I remain convinced that for us as Africans, this project was something that could have been incredible,” Eto’o told CNN, external on Monday.
“It would have reset the balance of power in football to ensure that our talent doesn’t disappear and end up playing for other nations.
“Infantino has changed football. He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions. He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that.”
The contrasting positions underline the growing divide over Infantino’s leadership. While some former and current players are demanding greater accountability and a stronger voice for football stakeholders, Eto’o believes Infantino’s leadership has created important opportunities for African football.
With opposition growing among several football bodies and players now speaking publicly, pressure on Infantino is unlikely to disappear soon. The debate over Fifa’s leadership, governance and the future direction of the global game is set to intensify ahead of next year’s election.
