The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has issued a formal call for a complete overhaul of FIFA’s governance, asserting that President Gianni Infantino must be replaced by 2027. As one of the original founding members of the organization in 1904, the Dutch body released a sharp critique on Sunday, stating that it no longer maintains confidence in the current leadership.
While the KNVB previously backed Infantino during his most recent election, the association clarified that this support was never unconditional. The organization is now pushing for an “International Summit on the Future of FIFA” to be held in Amsterdam, where member associations and global confederations can collectively determine the future direction of the sport’s governing body.
The KNVB emphasized that merely swapping the president is insufficient to address the systemic issues within the organization. They argued that there is currently an excessive concentration of power vested in the presidency and a lack of clear separation between the president’s office and the broader FIFA administration. To rectify this, the Dutch body proposed a structural shift where the secretary-general assumes a leadership role in operations, while the president focuses on global representation.
A core component of the proposed reforms involves changing the decision-making process. The KNVB suggests that the FIFA Congress should take responsibility for major strategic calls under the supervision of the council. Furthermore, the association has outlined three primary reform priorities: implementing stronger checks and balances, prioritizing human rights and sustainability in all decisions, and fostering more robust international cooperation.
Financially, the KNVB is advocating for a mandate that would see FIFA reinvest up to 90 percent of its distributable revenue directly into football development. This proposal arrives amid ongoing debates regarding the wealth gap between member nations, a topic Infantino addressed last week by highlighting FIFA’s responsibility to support members with limited financial resources.
Addressing potential concerns that these reforms might be viewed as a Western-centric initiative, the KNVB stated, “This should not be a European plan for the rest of the world.” They expressed a desire to collaborate with all 211 member associations and global confederations to build a new, inclusive direction for the sport.
The pressure on Infantino continues to mount as he prepares for a potential re-election bid in March. Regional football bodies have previously weighed a vote of no confidence following a controversial, subsequently aborted, proposal to sell a stake in FIFA events to private equity investors.
Adding to the legal complexities, the KNVB is a member of UEFA, which has petitioned a United States federal court for access to documents and testimony from FIFA entities in Florida. This information is intended for use in a planned criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland.
FIFA did not provide a response to requests for comment regarding the KNVB’s statement or the proposed summit plans. The report also notes that the KNVB, one of FIFA’s founding members in 1904, issued a scathing statement on Sunday, saying it had lost confidence in Infantino and wanted to reshape the body rather than just change leadership at the top.
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