FIFA is embroiled in a deepening crisis that demands substantial governance reform, according to David Terrier, president of the players' union Fifpro Europe, who described an organisation gripped by mistrust and internal conflict as Gianni Infantino fights to hold onto power.
Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, Terrier said football's governing body has become consumed by what he termed a "real war," with confidence between federations and confederations badly eroded. The turmoil follows a bungled attempt by Infantino to push through the sale of commercial rights tied to the World Cup, a proposal that has triggered widespread backlash just as the FIFA president campaigns for re-election in March.
Three of football's major confederations — UEFA, the AFC, and Concacaf — have openly criticised Infantino's handling of the matter in recent weeks, with some calling for his resignation. Yet the FIFA president has found an unlikely ally in US president Donald Trump, who described the idea of removing Infantino as a "terrible mistake."
According to Terrier, the debate over whether Infantino should remain in his post has become almost secondary to the larger issue of institutional dysfunction. "At this point, the question is no longer whether Gianni Infantino should stay on or resign. It's clear that a real war has broken out, with a loss of trust from many federations and confederations," he said.
He was careful not to call directly for the FIFA president's departure, framing the crisis instead as a symptom of deeper structural flaws. "I'm not saying Infantino absolutely has to go. I think that, given the current context, the question almost doesn't even arise anymore," Terrier explained. "The issue is not whether he should resign or not. What we need are reforms and they are indispensable. There is a real lack of trust and serious doubts about how the system operates."
FIFA's leadership attempted to defuse the situation after convening an emergency meeting in Morocco last week. The organisation issued an apology to its 211 member associations, acknowledging missteps in how the commercial rights proposal was communicated, while reaffirming its backing of Infantino. Officials also cautioned member associations against any moves to challenge Infantino's leadership outside of FIFA's established statutes and democratic processes, insisting that the controversy stemmed from procedural and communication errors rather than any violation of governance rules.
But Terrier pushed back against that characterisation, arguing that the concentration of power around the presidency echoes the conditions that led to the corruption scandal which ultimately toppled Sepp Blatter a decade ago. "This style of governance is no longer possible or acceptable, it's exactly what we have been denouncing for years. We are in a worse situation now than when Blatter resigned," he said, warning that continued suspicion could damage football's reputation if left unaddressed. "If we continue with the same system, we will face the same suspicions and football will not be placed in a positive situation. We've reached a point where there is too much suspicion, and reforms are necessary."
Terrier argued that genuine change can only come if Infantino himself leads the reform effort, even at personal political risk. "The FIFA president should be the one to drive and support them. In such a case, he must be willing to put his mandate on the line. Without that, whatever happens will be a defeat for football," he said.
He went further, suggesting the current turmoil represents a rare and possibly final opportunity to reshape FIFA's power structure. "These powers must be shared, with a president who is a guarantor, but who does not hold all the power," Terrier said. "It is the last chance we have to secure reforms and put mechanisms in place to protect football. FIFA's administration is not in a position, not able, to act as a counter-power or as guardian of the laws, statutes and regulations that apply — including to its own president."
Based on reporting from Independent (via Reuters).