Players unite against Infantino, demand change at Fifa

A group of current and former footballers has openly turned against Fifa president Gianni Infantino at a moment when his leadership faces one of its toughest tests since taking charge. In a statement released this Monday, they argue that 'change is necessary' at the top of the governing body, directly challenging how major decisions affecting the sport are made.

• Former defender Mikael Silvestre, a member of Fifa's Players' Voice Panel, published the statement under the title 'Enough is Enough!'
• Lucy Bronze, Emmanuel Petit and David James are among the players who have shared and backed the message
• The row centres on Infantino's plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors
• Several federations, including England, Wales and Scotland, have already withdrawn their support for the Swiss-Italian official
• Samuel Eto'o has defended Infantino, praising his record in supporting African national teams

What the players' statement against Infantino says

The text, signed by Silvestre and shared by numerous high-profile footballers, states that players share 'the exact same concerns as millions of fans around the world'. The criticism is aimed squarely at how the organisation is run, accusing it of drifting away from football's core values under the current leadership.

We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa's current leadership.

The statement insists that major decisions have repeatedly been made without consulting players and without any regard for the fans who ultimately sustain the game, both financially and emotionally.

The privatisation plan that sparked the backlash

The trigger for this renewed unrest is Infantino's intention to sell stakes in official competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors through the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme. The proposal has drawn widespread rejection from confederations, national associations and now the players themselves.

A call for real power for players and fans

Beyond the immediate criticism, the statement calls for unity 'from grassroots to the top of the game' to push for structural reform at Fifa. Its signatories want players and fans to have a 'real, direct say' in how the sport is governed, arguing this is currently absent despite them being the ones who keep the industry running.

The internal challenge: Mikael Silvestre's role

It is particularly notable that the challenge comes from someone inside Fifa's own structure. Silvestre sits on the Players' Voice Panel, a 16-member group set up by the governing body itself to advise on tackling racism in football. The fact that dissent is emerging from within adds extra weight to the crisis surrounding Infantino.

Pressure from Uefa and national federations

The players' discontent adds to weeks of mounting tension between Infantino and several continental confederations. Uefa, led by Aleksander Ceferin, has threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions and has signalled that it expects Infantino to resign or face a challenger in next March's presidential election. National associations including England, Wales and Scotland have already publicly withdrawn their backing.

Not everyone is against him: Samuel Eto'o's defence

Not every voice in football is aligned against Infantino. Former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, now president of his country's football association, has defended the Fifa chief, saying he doesn't believe Infantino has 'done anything wrong'. Eto'o argued that reforms introduced under his presidency have given smaller nations, particularly in Africa, greater access to major tournaments including the World Cup, helping their federations develop more quickly.