Bundesliga Daily Report - 2026-09-24: European leagues prepare joint FIFA reform statement

The Bundesliga and three other leading European leagues were set to issue a joint call for FIFA governance reform on Friday, according to reports on Thursday. The proposed statement from Germany’s top flight, the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A was expected to demand greater consultation on issues including the global football calendar. It remained subject to formal agreement, while it was unclear whether the leagues would explicitly call for Gianni Infantino to resign. The move followed a legal complaint filed with the European Union by the European Leagues Association over FIFA’s handling of the international match calendar.

The reported intervention would give the Bundesliga a prominent role in a widening dispute over how football’s global decisions are made. The leagues were expected to seek more independent oversight and a meaningful role for stakeholders in decision-making, rather than directly targeting Infantino’s position. FIFA’s president has faced criticism after a plan to sell commercial rights from major tournaments to private investors was abandoned, although he has offered talks and announced an independent governance review. The joint statement could therefore become an important test of whether Europe’s biggest domestic competitions can exert collective pressure on the world governing body.

Harry Kane said on Wednesday that he was fairly close to signing a new contract with Bayern Munich, with his current agreement due to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season. The 33-year-old England captain has been discussing an extension with the Bundesliga champions since the beginning of the campaign, and his comments represented the clearest indication yet that he expects to remain in Bavaria. Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen had already described the negotiations with Kane’s representatives as productive and hoped the striker’s future could be resolved during the extended international break.

Kane’s reported intention to continue in Germany reflected his satisfaction with the club, the coach and the surrounding environment. He has also indicated that remaining at Bayern could help him extend his career at the highest level, while the club has repeatedly expressed a desire to retain him. A deal would provide continuity for the Bundesliga champions and keep a prolific central figure at the club beyond his existing commitment. Reports suggested the extension could run at least until 2029, although the agreement was still being finalised.

RB Leipzig had won both of their home Bundesliga fixtures by an aggregate 8-0 after four league matches under Martín Demichelis, according to Get German Football News on Thursday. Their away record was markedly weaker, with defeats by Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and Como in the Champions League, leaving the new coach with a clear split between performances in Saxony and on the road. Leipzig’s early results have given Demichelis’ new 4-3-3 some encouraging foundations, but the side has yet to reproduce its best spells consistently outside the Red Bull Arena.

The tactical assessment highlighted sustainability as the central question for Demichelis. Leipzig produced an excellent six-minute period against Bayern in the Telekom Cup, but the challenge was extending that intensity across an entire match and carrying it into difficult away fixtures. The coach has also faced criticism in the German press over his German, adding pressure during an early run that has exposed a significant home-and-away imbalance. Turning possession of their home advantage into a reliable away approach will be crucial if Leipzig are to challenge across the Bundesliga and Europe.

Harry Kane said on Wednesday that he would consider pursuing an NFL placekicking career after his football days ended. Speaking at England’s training camp, the Bayern Munich striker said the idea depended on his motivation and career over the next five or six years, while stressing that football remained his immediate priority. Kane also suggested a future move to Major League Soccer could potentially run alongside an NFL opportunity, because the two sports have different seasons. The comments revived an ambition he had discussed earlier in his career, but placed it firmly beyond his current work in the Bundesliga.

Kane believes his experience taking penalties could provide a useful foundation, citing similarities in pressure and technique, although he acknowledged that elite sport is harder than it appears on television. He said he would take the challenge seriously and would need six months to a year of preparation before attempting it. The idea has a practical precedent in Brandon Aubrey, who moved from MLS to become an NFL kicker. For Kane, however, the plan remains a long-term possibility rather than a change of immediate sporting direction.