Gianni Infantino: 'Change is necessary' - players unite against Fifa president
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A number of current and former footballers have united against under-pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino, stating "change is necessary" at the head of the global governing body.
Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who sits on Fifa's Players' Voice Panel, issued a statement on X on Monday in a post he titled "Enough is Enough!."
The statement has been shared on social media by the likes of England defender Lucy Bronze, France's 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former England goalkeeper David James.
It follows Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The statement says players "share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world":
We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa's current leadership. For too long we've seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.
Criticising how the governing body operates, the statement adds:
Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership's ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. Recent events have made silence impossible.
The statement also called for unity from "grassroots to the top of the game" in support of "structural change" at Fifa, with players and fans getting a "real, direct say" in how the sport is run.
Infantino has faced sustained pressure to his leadership in recent weeks...