Pires and Petit join former stars in demand for structural change at FIFA

Arsenal legends Robert Pires and Emmanuel Petit, along with former Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, are among a group of ex-players calling for major change at FIFA and warning that they will no longer remain silent.

In a joint statement, the former footballers said the sport was deteriorating under the organisation’s current leadership and accused its decision-makers of repeatedly acting without properly consulting supporters or players.

“As players, football gave us everything, and we devoted our lives to football,” the group said at the start of its declaration.

They said their concerns were shared by millions of fans around the world, who they believe are increasingly worried about the direction in which football is heading.

“We share the same concerns as millions of supporters around the world. Like them, we see that the sport we love so much is deteriorating more and more under the current leadership of FIFA,” the statement continued.

“For too long, major decisions have been taken without consulting or informing supporters and players.”

The former internationals and high-profile players also called for practical steps to address their concerns, arguing that the balance between the interests of football’s administrators and the wider game had been lost.

“Change is essential. Power has caused the current leaders to lose all balance between their own interests and what is best for football,” they said.

“Recent events make silence impossible. Enough is enough. We call on all stakeholders to help shape the future of our sport.”

The statement did not identify any specific recent event, decision or FIFA policy. Instead, it set out a broader criticism of the way the game is governed and demanded greater involvement for those directly connected to it.

The group acknowledged that some people inside FIFA wanted to rebuild confidence in the organisation, but said changes to its structure were still required.

“There are also well-intentioned people within FIFA who want to restore trust, but a new era requires structural change,” the former players said.

They insisted that players and supporters should be able to express their views directly, with both groups given a formal role in determining football’s future.

“It is essential that players and supporters are able to speak directly. Those who take to the pitch and those who take their places in the stands deserve to have a say in shaping the future,” the statement said.

The declaration ended with a warning that the football community had remained quiet for too long.

“As a community, we have remained silent for too long. We will never stay silent again,” the group said.