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The Dutch football federation (KNVB) on Sunday said \u201cFIFA needs new leadership\u201d and that it would like to host a summit on the future of football\u2019s world governing body which does not involve beleaguered president Gianni Infantino.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 56-year-old Swiss has taken a pummelling over his now shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan to bring private investment into FIFA events, including the jewels in the crown, the men\u2019s and women\u2019s World Cups.<\/p>\n The KNVB in a letter to Aleksander Ceferin, president of European football\u2019s governing body UEFA, said it had lost confidence in Infantino and things had to change radically within FIFA.<\/p>\n Infantino, who was elected in 2016 after Sepp Blatter stood down, had looked set to be re-elected unopposed to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March as he basked in the afterglow of a highly successful World Cup.<\/p>\n However, his botched proposal has resulted in a steady loss of support, the Norwegian FA demanded he resign and now the Dutch are envisaging an overhaul of FIFA without him at the helm.<\/p>\n Anyone wishing to challenge Infantino \u2014 CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is seen as the likeliest to put his name forward as Ceferin has declared himself a non-runner \u2014 has to do so by November 18.<\/p>\n \u201cThe KNVB no longer has confidence in the leadership of FIFA President Gianni Infantino,\u201d read the KNVB statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe FIFA needs new leadership from 2027 onwards. But a new President alone is not enough. The way FIFA is governed must change as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Although UEFA has led the fight against Infantino \u2014 their latest salvo threatening legal action accusing him of \u201ccriminal mismanagement\u201d \u2014 KNVB insisted its proposal for change \u201cshould not be a European plan for the rest of the world\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to develop this new direction together with FIFA\u2019s 211 Member Associations and the confederations from all parts of the world,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n The KNVB listed three priorities: Good governance for a better balance of power, putting football\u2019s social power at the heart of FIFA and investing more in football worldwide.<\/p>\n One of the main accusations aimed at Infantino has been a lack of transparency \u2014 contradicting what he had promised when first elected \u2014 and taking decisions unilaterally or with just a few of his inner circle involved.<\/p>\n Such was the case with the FFE when according to The New York Times five FIFA senior directors were apprised of the proposal at a meeting in a hotel in New York on the eve of the World Cup final in the US last month.<\/p>\n \u201cFIFA should not depend on one individual. The President, FIFA Council, Congress and Secretary-General each have their own role and responsibility,\u201d said the KNVB.<\/p>\n \u201cThe President represents and unites. The Council governs and supervises. Congress decides. The Secretary-General leads the organisation.<\/p>\n \u201cThis requires greater transparency, independent oversight and room for critical voices.\u201d<\/p>\n To this end the KNVB said it would like all these matters to be discussed by \u201cfootball associations and confederations\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe therefore propose an International Summit on the Future of FIFA,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe KNVB is willing to host this summit in Amsterdam, a city with a special place in FIFA\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 2027 presidential election should not only be about who leads FIFA.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, we need to determine what kind of FIFA we want. Then we can identify the leadership needed to deliver that change.\u201d<\/p>\n UEFA when contacted by AFP preferred to keep its own counsel regarding the letter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would prefer not to comment on correspondence that was intended to be private,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can only add that we have a long-standing, productive working relationship with KNVB, which we greatly appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u2018Critical voices\u2019<\/h2>\n