England stars back player-led calls for Fifa president Infantino to quit
Gianni Infantino is facing more calls to step down from Fifa insiders after Mikael Silvestre, a member of its Players’ Voice Panel, joined the chorus of dissent.
Former Manchester United and France defender Silvestre, who also hosted a podcast for Fifa during this summer’s World Cup, posted a statement titled “Enough is Enough” on social media.
It comes as Infantino clings to power despite widespread and ongoing outcry at his now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in Fifa’s World Cup business to private investors.
“Change is necessary,” Silvestre wrote. “Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.
“Recent events have made silence impossible. 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.
“We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport.”
The statement was shared on social media by Lionesses defender Lucy Bronze, former England goalkeeper David James and French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit.
It is the latest blow to Infantino’s hopes of rallying sufficient support to run for re-election next year, despite staunch backing among leaders in Africa and South America.
The confederations of Europe, Asia, and Central and North America and the Caribbean have all declared they have lost faith in the current Fifa leadership.
Silvestre was announced as one of 16 members of Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, a steering committee on racism and equality matters, last year and has no history of rabble-rousing.
Global footballer’s union Fifpro backed his call, saying: “The experience of these players on and off the pitch gives them every right to voice concerns, shape debates and influence decisions about the future of the game that they have helped to build.
“As we have recently said, reforms are now indispensable to develop a new model that restores confidence in the game’s future – and embeds the representation of professional footballers in decisions affecting their careers and stewardship of the game.”