August 24, 2026
A picture shows the FIFA logo during a press conference held by the president of the football’s governing body at the FIFA Executive Football Summit on February 15, 2019 in Istanbul. EU sports chief on July 29, 2026 hit out at FIFA’s plans to sell a stake in its competitions including the World Cup, warning international football’s governing body: “Hands off our game.” (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
Several ex-footballers, including Premier League winners Emmanuel Petit and Mikael Silvestre, have called for “change” in FIFA’s leadership following the failed plan to open the World Cup to private investors.
“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” Frenchmen Silvestre, Petit and Olivier Dacourt said in social media posts.
The ex-players did not directly mention FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who earlier in the day was backed by former Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o, but they criticised his leadership.
