FIFPRO board advances strategic priorities

FIFPRO’s board convened in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, reviewing key strategic priorities and reaffirming its commitment to strengthening representation for professional footballers worldwide.

The agenda covered regulatory developments, governance matters and ongoing initiatives aimed at reinforcing player protection and institutional stability.

During the meeting, the board noted the recent announcements by three member unions regarding their intention to leave the organisation. FIFPRO continues to represent national player unions across all regions of the world, speaking for more than 65,000 professional footballers globally.

FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi said: “Two years ago, our members made a clear decision about the future of this organisation. They voted for change, for stronger governance and for a more accountable leadership model. That decision was not personal. It was institutional.”

Marchi added: “FIFPRO is a global movement built on collective responsibility. Our focus remains on serving players, strengthening unity and continuing to evolve as an organisation that reflects the needs of the modern game.”

Expanding Player Representation at Continental Level

The board also welcomed the continued progress achieved across FIFPRO’s divisions, including the appointment of a player representative to the UEFA Executive Committee with full voting rights, a position held by David Terrier as President of FIFPRO Europe. For the first time at continental level, professional footballers now hold a formal seat and vote within the highest decision-making body of European football, further embedding the player voice within the governance framework of the game.

FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi said: “This development reflects steady and collective progress in strengthening player representation within football’s institutional structures.  Our movement advances through unity, consistency and responsible engagement. When players are represented at the table, governance becomes more balanced and more closely aligned with the realities of their professional careers.”

Regulatory and Institutional Priorities

The board discussed ongoing engagement with FIFA, including revisions to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). In light of recent legal developments, including the Diarra case, FIFPRO reiterated the importance of ensuring that football’s regulatory framework is legally robust and aligned with players’ employment rights.

Members also emphasised the need to deepen stakeholder inclusion and democratize decision-making processes affecting players’ careers.

Strengthening Player Protection and Governance

The agenda included updates on player education programmes, strengthened protections around player data, and reports from several committees established under the new governance framework, including finance, the Women’s Football Steering Council and the Commercial Supervisory Board.

The Board also approved a series of progressive gender diversity recommendations aimed at further strengthening inclusion and leadership diversity within the organisation.

FIFPRO Secretary General Alex Phillips said: “FIFPRO is operating today with greater transparency and clarity than ever before. Our statutes are public, our governance structures are clearly defined and our accountability mechanisms are fully embedded. That openness strengthens our credibility and our independence.”

Phillips added: “The organisation is stable, fully independent, forward-looking and firmly focused on delivering for players. Our mandate comes from our global membership, and that mandate remains strong.”

The meeting concluded with agreement on next steps for 2026, reinforcing FIFPRO’s commitment to stability, independence and global representation.