Football powerhouse leagues turn up heat on Infantino

The Premier League and three other top European leagues have called for governance reform of Fifa following Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. A joint statement with leagues from Spain, Italy and Germany accused Fifa's president Infantino of actively promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them”. The collaboration of the Premier League, football's richest and most popular league, with Europe's other leading leagues adds to the growing pressure on Infantino, who plans to stand for re-election despite losing support over his controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary. “Football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem,” the four powerhouses of European football said. (AP) Edited by Aaron Tam