The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), a founding member of FIFA since 1904, issued a strong statement on Sunday saying it no longer has confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and wants a restructuring of the global football governing body, not merely a change in top leadership.
According to the statement, KNVB believes FIFA needs new leadership from 2027, while emphasizing that the way FIFA is governed must also change. The Dutch federation proposed holding an "International Summit on the Future of FIFA" in Amsterdam, inviting football associations and regional confederations from around the world to participate.
KNVB's statement read: "We see too much power concentrated around the FIFA President and no proper separation between the President and FIFA's administration." They also stressed that their support for Infantino in recent elections "was never unconditional."
The move comes as Infantino is expected to seek re-election in March, but regional football bodies have considered a vote of no confidence after a proposal to sell stakes in events like the World Cup to private equity investors was scrapped.
KNVB outlined three reform priorities: better governance with stronger checks and balances, placing human rights and sustainability at the heart of decision-making, and increasing international cooperation. They also want FIFA to reinvest up to 90% of distributable revenue into football development.
KNVB's statement emphasized: "This should not be a European plan for the rest of the world. We want to develop this new direction together with the 211 member associations of FIFA and regional confederations from all over the world."
FIFA has not yet responded to KNVB's statement. Earlier, UEFA, of which KNVB is a member, asked a U.S. federal court to allow it to collect testimony and documents from FIFA entities in Florida to support a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland.
