A number of current and former footballers have united against under-pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino, stating "change is necessary." Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who sits on Fifa's Players' Voice Panel, issued a statement titled "Enough is Enough!". The statement has been shared by England defender Lucy Bronze, France's 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, and former England goalkeeper David James. It follows Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The players share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world. Criticising how the governing body operates, the statement added: "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, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.

The statement continued: "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. It also called for unity from grassroots to the top of the game in support of structural change at Fifa, with players and fans getting a real, direct say in how the sport is run. Infantino has faced sustained pressure, with Uefa threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions. Numerous national governing bodies, including the football associations of England, Wales and Scotland, have withdrawn support.