Supporters' organisations from around the globe have banded together to launch a petition calling for Gianni Infantino to step down as Fifa president, while also pushing for sweeping reforms to how the organisation is run.
The campaign comes at a turbulent moment for Infantino, who recently scrapped his plans to bring in private investors to help operate Fifa's flagship competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups. That reversal followed an open letter last week from three continental confederations, which accused the Fifa chief of "deception" in how the scheme was drawn up and communicated to member associations. Uefa, in particular, has signaled it has "lost confidence" in Infantino and intends to boycott Fifa events going forward, even as he continues to enjoy backing in parts of Africa and South America.
Against this backdrop, fan representative groups have turned to the petition platform change.org to formalize their demand for his exit. The petition has already drawn signatures and endorsements from supporter organisations spanning all six of Fifa's confederations.
A joint statement issued on behalf of the fan groups did not hold back in its criticism. "The shameful attempt by one individual – the Fifa president himself – to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget," the statement read. It went on to describe the investment scheme as having been "stitched together in secret" and "negotiated behind closed doors, hidden from Fifa's own members and from the millions of people whose passion makes football what it is."
The frustration voiced by fans is not limited to the shelved investment plan. Organisers pointed to Fifa's prior entanglement with the failed European Super League project, as well as backlash over ticket pricing for this summer's men's World Cup, as contributing factors that pushed supporter groups to act now. "A president who repeatedly betrays football and makes a mockery of our game has lost the right to lead it," the statement continued. "For the credibility of Fifa – and for the future of the game – he must resign."
Beyond calling for Infantino's departure, the petition also demands structural changes within Fifa, specifically pushing for fans and other stakeholders to be given a formal seat at the table when decisions are made about the sport's direction.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, one of the groups behind the petition, elaborated on the broader goals in comments to the Press Association. "The departure of Gianni Infantino is a first and a must, but that can only have a positive impact if it's followed by some reform of the office and of governance," he said. Evain argued that the concentration of power in one individual's hands reflects a deeper flaw in Fifa's structure. "If a man can concentrate so many powers then the governance of Fifa is not fit for purpose," he added, calling for Fifa to "start from scratch" given that reforms introduced in 2016 have effectively been undone under Infantino's tenure. He suggested looking beyond football for inspiration, floating the idea of a rotating presidency as one possible model worth exploring.
Adding to the scrutiny surrounding Infantino's leadership, a report from The Athletic revealed that he had also sought private funding for a separate initiative — an under-15 football festival intended to involve all 211 Fifa member associations. According to the report, a proposal to host the tournament in Florida had gained support from Eldridge, a firm founded and chaired by Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly. That plan was reportedly abandoned shortly before the men's World Cup. Fifa has since named Azerbaijan as host of the inaugural Under-15 World Cup Festival, scheduled for October and featuring boys' teams only, with a girls' edition planned for 2027.
Fifa has not yet responded to requests for comment on the petition or the broader allegations.
Based on reporting from The Independent.