FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism from a group of former football stars after they issued a joint statement calling for structural changes within world football’s governing body.
The intervention follows controversy over a reported plan involving the sale of parts of the FIFA World Cup to private investors. Although the proposal was subsequently withdrawn, scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership has continued. The latest statement suggests that discontent is no longer confined to outside critics, with former players and FIFA-linked football figures now openly questioning the direction of the organisation.
Among those to publish the statement on social media was former France international defender Mikaël Silvestre, a member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel. Silvestre, who won the Champions League during his time at Manchester United and also played for Arsenal, called for a “new era” at FIFA.
Former England defender Lucy Bronze, a former FIFA women’s player of the year, also shared a similar message. Emmanuel Petit, the former France midfielder who helped his country win the 1998 World Cup, was another prominent former player to endorse the statement.
The criticism is particularly significant because some FIFA-affiliated legends have previously supported initiatives promoted under Infantino’s presidency. Among the most controversial proposals was the idea of staging the men’s World Cup every two years rather than every four. The plan generated considerable debate within international football before it failed to gain the broad support required to move forward.
The latest statement takes a much more direct tone. The former players said they share the concerns felt by millions of football supporters around the world, arguing that the sport has been moving away from its fundamental values under FIFA’s current leadership.
They said recent developments had left them unable to remain silent, adding the blunt message: “Enough is enough.”
The group also acknowledged that there are people within FIFA who want to rebuild confidence in the organisation. However, they argued that restoring trust would require more than changes in individual decisions. Structural reform, they said, was necessary to create a new era for the sport.
A central demand of the statement is greater involvement from players and supporters in the way football is governed. According to the former footballers, those directly connected to the game should have a meaningful and direct voice in decisions affecting its future.
The intervention comes at a time when the governance and commercial direction of international football remain closely scrutinised. FIFA oversees the World Cup and a wide range of global competitions, while its decisions can have significant consequences for national associations, clubs, players and supporters.
Infantino has been president of FIFA since 2016 and has pursued a number of reforms and expansion plans during his tenure. Some have been welcomed as attempts to modernise and broaden the organisation’s reach, while others have faced resistance from sections of the football community.
The latest criticism therefore carries particular weight because it comes from individuals who have played at the highest level and, in some cases, have maintained links with FIFA through official roles.
Their message is not simply a criticism of one proposal or one recent controversy. It is a broader call for greater transparency, accountability and participation in the governance of football.
With former international stars now publicly demanding change, pressure on Infantino and FIFA’s leadership could intensify as the organisation continues to shape the future of the world’s most popular sport.
