‘Sad To See’ – Nasser Al-Khelaïfi Warns FIFA And Delivers Verdict On Global Football

Taking the stage at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi addressed the 33rd EFC General Assembly. Speaking before a record turnout of 900 clubs, the Qatari executive sent direct messages to Gianni Infantino. He projected strong authority in front of major institutions such as AC Milan, Barcelona, and Olympique de Marseille.

Pulling no punches, the Paris Saint-Germain president lamented the current atmosphere poisoning the game's top governing bodies. He stressed that the football world is wasting time dealing with unnecessary friction rather than developing the sport. Demanding full transparency, he firmly underlined that football itself is far bigger than personal disputes and individual ambitions.

Continuing his passionate address, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi reaffirmed the vital role played by developing clubs looking ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Insisting on the protection of football, he urged every stakeholder to look beyond self-interest. He also drove home the point that both elite and smaller clubs form an indispensable single team for the sport.

Following that strong stance, the EFC chairman confirmed the creation of a new international body named World Football Clubs. This brand-new organization aims to unite clubs from outside Europe to carry real weight in global decision-making. By expanding this alliance, he establishes a massive counterweight to negotiate on equal terms with Zurich.

The move serves as a direct response to highly contested plans from world football's governing body. Friction centers around the FIFA Forward Enterprise project and the expanded Club World Cup. By joining forces, clubs intend to regain control over their fixture calendar and commercial revenues.

The event highlighted the strong alignment between Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and CAF leader Patrice Motsepe. In contrast, the absence of Gianni Infantino, who was represented by Mattias Grafström, reinforced the sense of growing political isolation. High-profile figures such as Zenia Stampe and Jesper Møller were also in attendance.

The EFC chairman concluded his address by calling for complete unity across all clubs to protect the future of football against unilateral decisions.