‘Change is necessary’ – players unite against FifaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Infantino was appointed Fifa president in 2016ByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalistPublished19 minutes agoA number of current and former footballers have united against under-pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino, stating “change is necessary” at the head of the global governing body.Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who sits on Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, issued a statement on X, external on Monday in a post he titled “Enough is Enough!”.
The statement has been shared on social media by the likes of England defender Lucy Bronze, France’s 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former England goalkeeper David James.
It follows Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors, with the statement saying players “share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world”.
Criticising how the governing body operates, it added: “We have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership.
“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.”
