Players Turn On Infantino: “Enough is Enough”

A growing wave of current and former footballers has broken ranks with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, publicly demanding leadership change at world football’s governing body.

The revolt was sparked by Mikael Silvestre, the former Manchester United and France defender who serves on FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel. In a pointed statement posted to X and titled “Enough is Enough!”, Silvestre accused FIFA’s leadership of losing touch with the sport’s core values. The message quickly gained traction, with prominent figures including England’s Lucy Bronze, 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former goalkeeper David James all lending their support online.

At the heart of the backlash is Infantino’s controversial push to sell stakes in major competitions — including the World Cup itself — to private investors. Silvestre’s statement framed the issue as a betrayal of trust, arguing that major decisions have repeatedly been made without consulting players or considering the fans who “sustain the sport.” The message didn’t hold back, declaring that “power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” and calling for structural reform that gives both players and supporters real influence over how the game is governed.

The timing adds to mounting pressure already surrounding Infantino’s leadership. UEFA has floated the possibility of boycotting FIFA competitions altogether, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has publicly suggested Infantino should either step down or brace for a genuine electoral challenge when the presidency comes up for a vote next March. Several national federations including those of England, Wales, and Scotland have already pulled their backing.

What makes Silvestre’s intervention particularly notable is that it comes from inside FIFA’s own structure, given his role on the Players’ Voice Panel, a body originally created to help the organization address racism in football.

Not everyone in the football world is siding against Infantino, however. Samuel Eto’o, the former Barcelona striker who now leads Cameroon’s football association, has defended the FIFA president, insisting he sees nothing wrong with his conduct. Speaking to CNN, Eto’o argued that Infantino’s reforms have specifically benefited African football expanding World Cup access for smaller nations and helping retain talent that might otherwise have been lost to other footballing powers. In his view, Infantino has been a genuine catalyst for growth across African federations, a contribution he believes deserves recognition rather than criticism.