The political dispute between the UEFA and Gianni Infantino continues to add chapters to its extensive novel. This Sunday, the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced that it intends to organize an international summit in Amsterdam to discuss a comprehensive reform of the FIFA and proposed that the current president should not continue in office after 2027.
Through an official statement, the entity, a founding member of FIFA since 1904, stated that it has lost confidence in the Swiss leader and maintained that the issue is not only about replacing the person in the presidency but also about changing the power structure within the organization. "The KNVB no longer has confidence in the leadership of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. We believe that FIFA needs new leadership starting in 2027", it expressed.
The Dutch organization clarified that this break did not occur suddenly. The KNVB had supported Infantino in the last presidential elections and assured that, even when there were differences, it always maintained dialogue with FIFA's leadership. "That support was never unconditional", it noted, while recalling that it had already demanded progress in three areas: good governance, human rights and sustainability, and greater international cooperation.
The breaking point, according to the statement, was the episode surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which contemplated the participation of private investors in assets linked to FIFA competitions and was ultimately withdrawn. For the Dutch federation, abandoning the project was necessary, but it is not enough to regain lost trust.
The KNVB also questioned the concentration of power within the organization. "We observe excessive power surrounding the FIFA President and a lack of separation between him and the organization", it stated. In its view, the Presidency, the FIFA Council, the Congress, and the Secretary General should have clearly differentiated functions and responsibilities.
For this reason, the proposal includes a stronger and more representative FIFA Council, a more independent organization, greater transparency and external oversight, as well as institutional spaces for dissent. Among the mentioned ideas is even the creation of a FIFA Youth Council, which would allow for the permanent participation of new generations.
The second major priority is related to the social role of football. The KNVB believes that human rights and sustainability must be part of FIFA's decisions, both in the selection of World Cup hosts and in commercial matters. It also called for greater efforts against racism and discrimination, along with more investments in youth football and the development of women and girls.
