Fifa faces 'biggest complaint ever' before World Cup
June 3, 2026 · 15:15 4 min read 4 views
A campaign to deliver the largest complaint Fifa has ever received is being launched by activists a week before the World Cup. With fans worried about safety and ticket costs, and human rights groups criticising Fifa, a class action-style complaint is seeking an investigation into Gianni Infantino's conduct.
The 'Reboot Fifa' campaign, led by advocacy group FairSquare, starts on Thursday and is backed by football activists and writers, including historian David Goldblatt and whistleblower Bonita Mersiades. The campaign urges people to add their names to what could be the biggest complaint Fifa has ever received about its senior officials.
The complaint will be submitted to Fifa's ethics committee after the World Cup, updating a previous version sent last year, which claimed Infantino breached the Fifa code of ethics by attending a Donald Trump event and awarding him a peace prize. FairSquare's director, Nick McGeehan, says the campaign aims to harness anger over issues like World Cup ticket prices and Fifa's peace prize to Donald Trump, and turn it into pressure for change.
FairSquare is proposing reforms, including increased auditing of Fifa's funds, a separation of commercial and regulatory functions, and greater transparency. Fifa says it already audits funds annually and keeps commercial operations separate from key bodies.
The campaign has received backing from Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian football federation, who says they will follow up and push for meetings after the World Cup. A Fifa spokesperson says the organisation has undergone governance reforms with a focus on transparency, acknowledged by international institutions.
The 'Reboot Fifa' campaign, led by advocacy group FairSquare, starts on Thursday and is backed by football activists and writers, including historian David Goldblatt and whistleblower Bonita Mersiades. The campaign urges people to add their names to what could be the biggest complaint Fifa has ever received about its senior officials.
The complaint will be submitted to Fifa's ethics committee after the World Cup, updating a previous version sent last year, which claimed Infantino breached the Fifa code of ethics by attending a Donald Trump event and awarding him a peace prize. FairSquare's director, Nick McGeehan, says the campaign aims to harness anger over issues like World Cup ticket prices and Fifa's peace prize to Donald Trump, and turn it into pressure for change.
FairSquare is proposing reforms, including increased auditing of Fifa's funds, a separation of commercial and regulatory functions, and greater transparency. Fifa says it already audits funds annually and keeps commercial operations separate from key bodies.
The campaign has received backing from Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian football federation, who says they will follow up and push for meetings after the World Cup. A Fifa spokesperson says the organisation has undergone governance reforms with a focus on transparency, acknowledged by international institutions.