ZURICH, Switzerland — Leading current and former footballers called for changes at the top of FIFA on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Their intervention followed opposition to President Gianni Infantino’s plan to invite private investment in competitions including the World Cup.
Mikael Silvestre, the former Manchester United and France defender, published a statement on X on Monday, August 24, 2026, under the heading “Enough is Enough!”
Silvestre is a member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel, a 16-member body established to advise the organisation on efforts to combat racism in football.
Enough is Enough ! pic.twitter.com/86YKFQbCZx
— Mikael Silvestre (@IamMSilvestre) August 24, 2026
The statement was also circulated by Lucy Bronze, the England defender; Emmanuel Petit, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team; and David James, the former England goalkeeper.
The players said they shared the concerns of supporters about the administration of the sport and the exclusion of players and fans from important decisions.
“We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA’s current leadership,” the statement said.
“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.”
Players Seek a Direct Role in FIFA
The statement called for changes to FIFA’s leadership and governing structure, saying players and supporters should have a direct voice in decisions affecting the sport.
“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” it said.
“Recent events have made silence impossible.”
The footballers urged people throughout the sport, from grassroots participants to those operating at its highest levels, to support structural changes at FIFA.
They said players and supporters should receive a “real, direct say” in the administration of football.
Silvestre’s participation placed a member of a FIFA-appointed advisory panel among those publicly challenging the organisation’s leadership.
The campaign followed criticism of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, under which stakes in competitions including the World Cup would have been offered to private investors.
Several football confederations opposed the proposal. UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while football associations in England, Wales and Scotland withdrew their support for Infantino.
Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA president, said he expected Infantino either to resign or face an opponent at the next FIFA presidential election in March.
Samuel Eto’o Defends Infantino
Samuel Eto’o, the former Barcelona striker and president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, defended Infantino amid the growing criticism.
Eto’o told CNN on Monday that he did not believe the FIFA president had “done anything wrong”.
“I remain convinced that for us as Africans, this project was something that could have been incredible,” Eto’o said.
He argued that the proposal could have shifted football’s balance of power and helped African countries retain players who might otherwise represent other nations.
“Infantino has changed football,” Eto’o said. “He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup.”
Eto’o said smaller countries had gained greater access to international competitions during Infantino’s presidency. He also credited the Fifa president with supporting the development of African football federations.
“He has helped our continent,” Eto’o said. “He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that.”
