{
  "id": 3209383,
  "title": "'Change is necessary' - players unite against Fifa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/change-is-necessary-players-unite-against-fifa",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T06:31:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy4zl2mz9rko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A coalition of current and former footballers has taken a stand against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, advocating for a change in leadership. Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who serves on the Fifa Players' Voice Panel, penned a scathing statement on X, calling for a revolution within the global governing body. England defender Lucy Bronze, France's 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former England goalkeeper David James have all echoed Silvestre's sentiments on social media. The statement asserts that players share the same concerns as millions of fans worldwide, criticizing how the governing body operates without consulting or considering players and fans. The player-led petition demands unity across the sport, from grassroots to the top, to bring about structural change at Fifa. Infantino has faced mounting pressure to step down following backlash from several confederations and the threat of a Uefa boycott due to the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) controversy. Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Association, has defended Infantino, claiming the project could have been transformative for African talent.",
  "summary": "A number of current and former footballers unite against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, stating that \"change is necessary\" at the global governing body.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "World Cup-winner Petit joins call for change in FIFA leadership",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/world-cup-winner-petit-joins-call-for-change-in-fifa-leadership",
        "published": "2026-08-25T05:25:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "'Change is necessary' - players unite against Fifa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/change-is-necessary-players-unite-against-fifa-3209403",
        "published": "2026-08-25T06:31:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}