Fifpro demands Fifa Council probe amid Infantino World Cup sell-off row

Fifpro, the global footballers’ union, has called for an independent review of the Fifa Council’s powers following what appears to be a sidelining by Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off proposal. This demand comes as Fifpro released new research indicating that the majority of value generated at this year’s World Cup originated from European clubs.

Uefa, the European governing body, had threatened to boycott Fifa competitions after learning of Infantino’s plan to sell stakes to private investors in a new company called Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). However, the boycott was lifted after Fifa abandoned the sell-off plan. Despite this, Uefa and its counterparts in Asia and North and Central America have continued to demand Infantino’s resignation and a restructuring of Fifa’s structure.

Critics claim that Infantino circumvented the Fifa Council when discussing the creation of FFE. Fifpro argues that players, clubs, and leagues should be involved in any new decision-making process. The union emphasizes that the objection was to unilateral decisions disguised as a solidarity mechanism, lacking consent, transparency, and participation from those who sustain the game.

Fifpro and Fifpro Europe are calling for an independent review of the Fifa Council’s decision-making function to prevent any single office from acting unilaterally again. They also advocate for the formal integration of professional football stakeholders—players, clubs, and leagues—into the decision-making process alongside Member Associations.

Fifpro’s report, compiled by Player IQ and Football Benchmark, reveals that 94% of player value at the 2026 World Cup came from European clubs, highlighting the global workforce involved in creating football’s value.