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Current and former footballers have backed calls for change at Fifa, saying players and fans deserve a greater say in how the sport is run.
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Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre led the statement, which has been shared by Lucy Bronze, Emmanuel Petit and David James.
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The criticism comes as Gianni Infantino faces increasing pressure from Uefa and several national football associations.
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Pressure on Fifa president Gianni Infantino is growing, and this time the criticism is coming from people who have spent their careers at the heart of the game.
August 25, (THEWILL) — A group of current and former footballers has publicly called for change at the top of world football, saying major decisions are being made without enough consideration for players or supporters.
Former Manchester United and France defender, Mikael Silvestre, who sits on Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, put the statement together and published it on social media under the title “Enough is Enough!”
Enough is Enough ! pic.twitter.com/86YKFQbCZx
— Mikael Silvestre (@IamMSilvestre) August 24, 2026
The message has since been shared by several well-known names, including England defender Lucy Bronze, former France international Emmanuel Petit and ex-England goalkeeper David James.
The statement comes at a difficult time for Infantino, who has faced mounting criticism over his leadership of Fifa.
At the centre of the latest dispute is the governing body’s controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The players’ statement argued that footballers share the concerns being expressed by supporters around the world, while also questioning the way important decisions are made within Fifa.
The group said the sport had moved away from some of its core values and criticised the lack of meaningful consultation with players.
It also called for structural changes that would give players and fans a more direct role in the way football is governed.
The criticism adds another layer to the problems facing Infantino.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has already taken a firm position against the FIFA president, threatening to boycott FIFA competitions. Ceferin has said he expects Infantino either to resign or face a challenge at next year’s election.
Football associations from England, Wales and Scotland are also among those that have withdrawn their support.
What makes the latest development particularly significant is Silvestre’s connection to Fifa itself.
The Players’ Voice Panel was established by Fifa to advise on issues including racism in football, meaning the criticism is not simply coming from outside the organisation. One of the people involved in a body created by Fifa is now publicly demanding change at the top.
Infantino has not, however, been without support.
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Former Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto’o, who is now president of the Cameroonian Football Association, defended the FIFA president and said he did not believe Infantino had done anything wrong.
Eto’o pointed to the opportunities that have been created for African and smaller football nations during Infantino’s time in charge.
He argued that the expansion of the World Cup had given more countries the chance to compete at the highest level and praised FIFA’s support for football development across Africa.
That divide highlights the wider argument surrounding Infantino’s presidency.
His supporters point to the increased opportunities for countries outside the traditional football powers and the investment that has gone into developing the game.
His critics, meanwhile, believe FIFA has become too distant from the players and supporters who make football what it is.
The latest statement from footballers suggests that the disagreement is no longer confined to football administrators.
With a FIFA election approaching next March and opposition building across parts of the football world, Infantino’s leadership is facing one of its most difficult periods yet.
And with players now joining the call for change, the debate over who should have a voice in the future of football is becoming harder for FIFA to ignore.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
