FIFPRO Europe chief insists FIFA needs an overhaul not a leadership debate

[p]FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier said FIFA was trapped in ‌a "real war" with a breakdown of trust among federations and confederations following president Gianni Infantino's botched proposal to sell ‌off commercial rights to the World Cup.[/p][p]Infantino, who is seeking reelection in March, has ‌faced open revolt in the last two weeks after three confederations - UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF - attacked ‌his conduct and called for him to quit.[/p][p][b]"At this point, the question is no ‌longer whether Gianni Infantino should stay on or resign. It's clear that a real war has broken out, with a loss of trust from many federations and confederations," Terrier told [i]Reuters[/i].[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm not saying Infantino absolutely ‌has to go. I think that, given the current context, ⁠the question almost doesn't even arise anymore.[/b][/p][p][b]"The ‌issue is not whether he should resign or not. What we need are reforms, and they are ​indispensable. There is a real lack of trust and serious doubts about how the system operates."[/b][/p][embed guid="e5d5a141-20e2-48df-80b3-8c17162e9b33" url="https://x.com/UEFA/status/2086732977229234642" social-type="twitter" /][p]Following a crisis meeting in Morocco last week, FIFA apologised to ​its 211 member associations for mistakes in the handling of the proposal and said its leadership had reaffirmed its full support for Infantino.[/p][h2]'Unacceptable style'[/h2][p]FIFA also warned against efforts ⁠to undermine Infantino, saying attempts to ​challenge his leadership must follow the governing body's statutes and democratic procedures.[/p][p]But Terrier warned FIFA risked repeating the mistakes that had plagued the organisation before the corruption scandal that brought down former president Sepp Blatter in 2015.[/p][p][b]"This style of governance is no longer possible or acceptable; it's exactly what we have been denouncing for years. We are in a worse situation now than when Blatter resigned," he said.[/b][/p][p][b]"If we continue with the same system, we will face the same suspicions and football will not be placed in a positive situation. We've reached a point where there is too much suspicion, and reforms are necessary.[/b][/p][p][b]"The FIFA president should be the one to drive and support them. In such a case, he must be willing to put his mandate on the line. Without that, whatever happens will be a defeat for football."[/b][/p][embed guid="88a27d22-19f2-43c6-a782-d80e454796a2" url="https://x.com/FIFPRO/status/2085379776995262947" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Last opportunity'[/h2][p]FIFA insisted that all actions taken over ‌the proposal complied with its regulations and stressed that mistakes related to process and communication ​rather than breaches of governance rules.[/p][p]However, Terrier said the crisis has shown it may ‌be "the last opportunity to change the system".[/p][p][b]"These powers must be shared, with a president who is a guarantor, but who does not hold all the power," he said.[/b][/p][p][b]"It is the last chance we have to secure reforms and put mechanisms in place to protect football.[/b][/p][p][b]"FIFA's administration is not in a position, not able, to act as ⁠a counter-power or as guardian of the ⁠laws, statutes and regulations that apply - ‌including to its own president."[/b][/p]