The Dutch football federation (KNVB) has stated that FIFA requires new leadership and expressed a desire to organize a summit concerning the future of the world governing body for football, specifically excluding the current president, Gianni Infantino.
The 56-year-old Swiss official has faced significant backlash due to his stalled FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, which aimed to incorporate private funding into major FIFA events, including both the men's and women's World Cups.
In a formal communication addressed to Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, the KNVB conveyed that it had lost faith in Infantino and asserted that fundamental changes within FIFA were necessary.
Infantino, who secured his position in 2016 following Sepp Blatter's departure, was reportedly poised for an unopposed fourth term in Rabat next March, enjoying the positive momentum from a highly successful World Cup.
However, the failure of his proposal has led to a decline in support; the Norwegian FA has called for his resignation, and now the Dutch federation is considering a complete restructuring of FIFA without him leading the organization.
Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF, is considered the most likely candidate to challenge Infantino, given that Ceferin has announced he will not run for office. Any challenge must be submitted by November 18.
The KNVB's statement explicitly noted, 'The KNVB no longer has confidence in the leadership of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.' Furthermore, they specified, 'We believe FIFA needs new leadership from 2027 onwards. But a new President alone is not enough. The way FIFA is governed must change as well.'
While UEFA has been actively opposing Infantino—most recently by threatening legal action alleging 'criminal mismanagement'—the KNVB emphasized that its proposed transformation should not be perceived as merely a European agenda for the entire globe.
The federation stressed the importance of developing this new path collaboratively with FIFA's 211 Member Associations and confederations globally. The KNVB outlined three key priorities for this change: establishing good governance for a more equitable distribution of power, centering football's social influence within FIFA, and increasing financial investment in football across the world.
A primary criticism leveled against Infantino concerns a perceived lack of transparency, which contradicts his initial promises upon election, alongside making decisions either unilaterally or involving only a small circle of close associates.
This issue was evident with the FFE, as The New York Times reported that five senior FIFA directors were informed of the proposal during a meeting held at a hotel in New York shortly before the World Cup final in the United States last month.
The KNVB argued that 'FIFA should not depend on one individual,' detailing that the President, FIFA Council, Congress, and Secretary-General each possess distinct roles and responsibilities. They elaborated that 'The President represents and unites. The Council governs and supervises. Congress decides. The Secretary-General leads the organisation.' This structure, they maintained, necessitates enhanced transparency, independent monitoring, and space for dissenting opinions.
To facilitate this discussion, the KNVB proposed an International Summit on the Future of FIFA, suggesting that all relevant football associations and confederations participate. The KNVB offered to host this summit in Amsterdam, citing its historical significance to FIFA. They concluded that the 2027 presidential election must address not only who will lead FIFA but also what kind of FIFA they wish to establish.
When contacted by AFP, UEFA stated a preference to maintain privacy regarding the correspondence, adding only that they value their long-standing and productive working relationship with KNVB.