A number of footballing legends, including Roberto Pires and Juan Sebastian Veron, have released a joint statement speaking out against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino remains under huge pressure to resign following his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World to private investors. Though that was later scrapped following significant backlash, Infantino remains under the microscope and the latest demand for his departure has come from some high-profile figures in the game.
Statement from football legends
Their statement read: "As players, football has given us everything, and we have given our lives to it. Between us, we have played on its greatest stages and worn our national shirts with pride.
"But we know that none of our achievements would’ve been possible without the fans, whose passion and commitment is the foundation of this game. We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world. Like them, 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. Change is necessary. 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. Enough is enough."
Call for structural change
"We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport. This is a call that unites us all, from the grassroots to the top of the game. There are good people within FIFA who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structural change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run.
"Those who step onto the pitch and those who sit in the stands deserve a genuine voice to help reshape football's future together. The football community has been quiet for too long. For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more."
More to follow on this breaking news story.
