FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier has called for sweeping reforms at FIFA, arguing that the current crisis goes beyond Infantino’s future and reflects deeper problems with the organization.
FIFA is facing one of the most serious challenges to its leadership in recent years, with growing divisions between its president and several continental confederations. For Terrier, however, the debate should not simply centre on whether Infantino remains in office.
Instead, the FIFPRO Europe chief believes the recent turmoil has exposed fundamental weaknesses in the way FIFA is governed and that meaningful reform is now essential.
“At this point, the question is no longer whether Gianni Infantino should stay on or resign,” Terrier said. “What we need are reforms, and they are indispensable.”
The dispute intensified after Infantino’s proposal to raise around $4.2 billion through the sale of a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions collapsed. The plan attracted criticism from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, while concerns over Infantino’s leadership have subsequently grown.
FIFA held a crisis meeting in Morocco last week, apologising to its 211 member associations over mistakes in the handling of the commercial proposal. The organisation also reaffirmed its support for Infantino, who is seeking another term as president.
Terrier, however, believes the response has not addressed the underlying issue. He described the situation as a “real war” and warned that the level of distrust between FIFA and parts of the football community has reached a dangerous point.
FIFPRO Statement: FIFA Forward Enterprise
Full statement: https://t.co/Dgr5J5B87h pic.twitter.com/3hApR3w9LN
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) August 6, 2026
FIFPRO Warns FIFA Cannot Repeat the Past
Terrier also drew comparisons with the period before the corruption scandal that eventually ended Sepp Blatter’s presidency in 2015.
He argued that FIFA’s current style of governance risks creating the same suspicions that damaged the organisation’s reputation during the Blatter era.
“This style of governance is no longer possible or acceptable,” Terrier said, adding that FIFA is now in an even more difficult position than when Blatter resigned.
For the players’ union, the solution is not simply to replace one president with another. Terrier wants FIFA’s powers to be distributed more widely, with stronger mechanisms capable of providing independent oversight of the organisation’s leadership.
“These powers must be shared, with a president who is a guarantor, but who does not hold all the power,” he said.
The FIFPRO Europe chief described the current situation as potentially FIFA’s “last opportunity” to introduce meaningful safeguards and restore trust.
