FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism after a group of former football stars publicly questioned the direction of world football under the organisation’s current leadership.
Infantino has been under pressure since details emerged of a controversial plan involving the sale of parts of the World Cup to private investors. Although FIFA subsequently stepped away from the proposal, the controversy has continued to fuel scrutiny of the organisation’s leadership and its approach to the commercial development of football.
Now, several prominent former players have issued a joint statement expressing concern that the sport is moving away from its “core values” under the current FIFA leadership. Their intervention represents a notable challenge to Infantino, particularly because some former FIFA legends have previously supported or promoted initiatives associated with his presidency.
Among those to share the statement on social media was Mikaël Silvestre, the former France international who played for both Manchester United and Arsenal. Silvestre, a member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel and a Champions League winner with Manchester United, called for the beginning of a “new era” at FIFA.
Former England defender Lucy Bronze, who has been recognised as FIFA’s former women’s player of the year, also shared the statement. Emmanuel Petit, the former France midfielder who helped his country win the 1998 World Cup, was another prominent name to endorse the message.
The criticism is particularly significant given the history of several FIFA initiatives under Infantino. One of the most controversial was the proposal to stage the men’s World Cup every two years instead of the traditional four-year cycle. The idea generated substantial debate across football, with concerns surrounding the international calendar, the workload on players and the place of other major competitions.
The latest dispute over the involvement of private investors has added another layer to the wider discussion about how football should be governed and how much influence commercial interests should have over the sport’s most important competitions.
In their joint statement, the former players said the concerns being expressed by supporters around the world were also shared by them. They argued that they had witnessed the sport moving away from its fundamental principles under FIFA’s present leadership.
“Recent events have left us no choice but to speak out. Enough is enough,” the statement said.
The group also stressed that their criticism was not directed at every individual working within FIFA. They acknowledged that there were people inside the organisation who wanted to restore confidence and improve the situation.
However, they argued that meaningful change would require more than individual efforts. Structural reforms, they said, were necessary to begin a new era for the sport.
A central part of their demand is greater involvement for players and supporters in the way football is governed. They believe those who play the game and those who follow it should have a genuine and direct voice in major decisions affecting its future.
Infantino became FIFA president in 2016 and has since overseen a period of significant change and commercial expansion for the organisation. His presidency has also been marked by several contentious proposals, some of which have attracted strong support while others have faced opposition from sections of the football community.
The latest statement from prominent former internationals therefore adds further weight to the debate over FIFA’s leadership. With concerns now being voiced publicly by figures who have themselves been closely associated with the global game, pressure on Infantino’s administration is likely to remain a subject of intense discussion within football.
