FIFPRO accuses Gianni Infantino of abuse of power and urges sweeping FIFA governance reform | OneFootball

FIFPRO has accused Gianni Infantino of abusing presidential power after FIFA scrapped its plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, and demanded sweeping governance reform.

L'Équipe reports that the international players' union set out its stance in a Thursday statement, calling the episode a deep abuse of presidential authority and urging profound change at FIFA.

It said the withdrawal of FIFA Forward Enterprise was inevitable, but had not restored the trust that allowed such a proposal to be tabled in the first place.

FIFPRO criticised FIFA's apology published on Wednesday evening after an emergency meeting in Rabat, Morocco, arguing the text sidestepped what happened and that the explanations underscored flaws in the current governance framework.

The union added that rigorous scrutiny of football governance is not an attack, after FIFA said it would no longer tolerate attacks on its integrity, good governance or due process. It warned that stance would only deepen concerns.

FIFPRO has asked for a legally binding obligation to involve professional football stakeholders in major decisions. It also proposed voting rights for those stakeholders on the FIFA Council and a clear, formally recognised role for FIFPRO as the global voice of professional footballers.

Above all, it called for governance and structural reforms that would prevent any single individual from imposing unilateral decisions in future. A letter detailing these requests has been sent to FIFA's administration.

Source: L'Équipe

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