Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has strongly criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino over proposals to bring private investment into global football.
Masters described the commercial initiative as wrong and asserted that football's global governing body had pressed the self-destruct button before Infantino eventually backed down from the plan.
The head of English top-flight football joined growing calls for a review of FIFA governance as Infantino, an Italian-Swiss administrator, prepares to seek re-election in March 2027.
FIFA operates as a non-profit organisation responsible for international football competitions, including the World Cup, while the Premier League represents the richest national club competition in the sport.
Self-inflicted wounds
Speaking to the BBC, Masters said the financial controversy was a problem created entirely by FIFA and described the situation as a self-inflicted wound.
He explained that the consequences of pressing the self-destruct button now affect the solutions that must be found to move forward.
Masters insisted that FIFA should not consider selling any shares in the World Cup to private investors, arguing that commercialising the tournament runs counter to its non-profit status.
He backed the stance taken by the English Football Association regarding Infantino, noting that the English governing body had taken the correct position on the matter.
Calls for governance reform
The Football Association, mirroring concerns raised by European football governing body UEFA, has repeatedly criticised FIFA for a lack of transparency in its administrative decision-making.
Despite rising discontent among European officials, no challenger has yet emerged to contest Infantino ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 2027.
According to Greek news agency APE-MPE, Masters pointed out that any prospective candidate seeking to lead an emerging coalition must include comprehensive FIFA reform in their campaign platform.
He concluded that a successful platform should aim to reshape the role of the FIFA president and redefine how the leadership handles key governance issues.
