FIFA faces an unprecedented wave of complaints ahead of the World Cup

According to The Guardian on June 4, an international football reform advocacy group has launched a signature drive to submit a complaint to FIFA's Ethics Committee, described as the largest in the organization's history, targeting FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The campaign, named "Reboot FIFA," was initiated just one week before the 2026 World Cup kicks off. Behind the initiative is the advocacy group FairSquare, which has spent years monitoring and criticizing FIFA's governance issues. The group calls on fans, activists, and football enthusiasts to join by signing the collective complaint.

The complaint is expected to be submitted to FIFA's Ethics Committee after the World Cup concludes. Its content is based on a dossier FairSquare filed in late 2025, alleging that Mr. Infantino violated Article 15 of FIFA's Code of Ethics, which requires maintaining political neutrality.

The controversy stems from Mr. Infantino attending a Peace Summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to the American leader. According to FairSquare, these actions raise questions about the independence and political neutrality of the head of world football's governing body.

FairSquare Director Nick McGeehan stated that many fans are frustrated with a range of FIFA-related issues, from soaring World Cup ticket prices to the organization's symbolic and political decisions. He said the campaign aims to turn that discontent into enough pressure to drive change in FIFA's governance.

In addition to demanding accountability from Mr. Infantino, FairSquare has proposed several reforms for FIFA. These include strengthening audits of the billions of dollars allocated to member associations, clearly separating commercial activities from governance and oversight functions, and expanding transparency and public accountability.

FIFA rejects the criticism and says it has implemented extensive reforms over the past decade. According to FIFA, all entities receiving financial support undergo annual independent audits, while commercial activities have been separated from key governing bodies since 2016.

The federation also emphasizes that judicial decisions are made public and financial reports comply with international standards. FIFA says it has allocated over $5 billion to global football development programs over the past decade and asserts that its current governance model is significantly more effective than the pre-2016 era.

FairSquare's campaign has garnered support from Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation, one of the prominent voices calling for FIFA reform. The Norwegian federation has sent a letter to FIFA's Ethics Committee expressing support for the complaint and indicating it will continue to push the issue after the World Cup.

For his part, Mr. Infantino has repeatedly defended his decision to award the FIFA Peace Prize to President Trump. He argues that the U.S. leader played a key role in resolving conflicts and saving lives. The FIFA President also insists that maintaining a close relationship with the U.S. President is crucial to ensuring the success of a World Cup hosted in the United States.

The emergence of the "Reboot FIFA" campaign just before the opening of the 2026 World Cup shows that debates over transparency, governance, and FIFA's political role remain heated, despite the reform efforts the organization claims to have undertaken over the years.