Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing strong criticism from the global players' union, Fifpro, which has accused the leader of a "profound abuse of presidential power." The controversy arises from a secret plan to sell stakes in a newly proposed entity, the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), to private investors. Fifpro, representing over 70 player unions worldwide, declared that the trust footballers place in the global governing body has been "fundamentally broken" by the president's conduct.
While Fifa acknowledged in an official statement that "mistakes" were made regarding the FFE initiative, the organization maintained that Infantino retains the "full support" of the management board members who attended a meeting in Morocco last Wednesday. Fifpro responded to this stance with "deep concern," asserting that although the withdrawal of the FFE proposal was necessary, it does not absolve the leadership of the actions taken.
In a formal communication, Fifpro criticized the process, noting that a plan capable of permanently altering the ownership and governance of the Fifa World Cup, and commercialising the competitions built by generations of players, was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement before the Fifa Council, the member associations, players and football’s recognised stakeholders even knew it existed. According to Fifpro, this represents a failure that cannot be remedied by internal reviews or promises of future reform, emphasizing that the players did not create this crisis.
Beyond the FFE, Fifpro has written to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom to demand broader governance reform. The union highlighted a pattern of decisions made without proper consultation, pointing to the introduction of hydration breaks as an example. Fifpro said the breaks had been “presented under the banner of player health” but appeared in reality to be “closer to a proof-of-concept for future commercial exploitation by FFE-type investors than a genuine welfare measure.” The union's letter reminded Fifa that the presidency exists to protect institutions rather than circumvent them, stressing that the World Cup and Fifa itself are held in trust for the sport, not as the personal assets of any individual.
“It cannot be rebuilt through carefully drafted statements, internal reviews or promises to improve processes. Nor can it be restored simply by announcing governance and structural reforms that should always have existed.
“These reforms are now indispensable. But they are the responsibility of the future, not an absolution of the past.
