Premier League Daily Report - 2026-09-24: Premier League joins European leagues demanding FIFA governance reform

The Premier League and three leading European leagues are set to issue a joint call for FIFA reform on Friday, according to Sky News. England’s top flight is expected to join the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A in demanding greater consultation on issues including the global football calendar. The statement was still being formally agreed on Thursday, and its wording had not been finalised. It was unclear whether the leagues would explicitly call for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to stand down, but the proposed intervention came amid a wider crisis surrounding his leadership.

The joint position is expected to seek more independent oversight at FIFA and a meaningful role for domestic leagues in major decisions. One football insider said the move followed a legal complaint filed nearly two years ago by the European Leagues Association over FIFA’s handling of the International Match Calendar. The involvement of four of Europe’s most influential competitions gives the demand considerable weight, particularly as the calendar continues to expand. The statement could therefore intensify pressure on FIFA to change how it consults leagues and other stakeholders.

Tottenham’s future under Roberto De Zerbi was called into question on Thursday after the latest defeat to Aston Villa, according to GIVEMESPORT. Spurs were reported to be bottom of the Premier League after five matches, having continued the poor form that saw them finish 17th in each of the previous two seasons and only avoid relegation on the final day of 2025-26. The club had backed De Zerbi with 10 new players and summer spending of more than £300 million, raising expectations that Tottenham would move away from last season’s survival fight.

Reports of possible replacements remained speculative, with GIVEMESPORT discussing potential successors rather than announcing any decision from the club. GiveMeSport also reported that Tottenham’s owners knew who they would prefer to appoint if De Zerbi were dismissed, while other coverage identified Kieran McKenna and Mauricio Pochettino among possible alternatives. The pressure has grown because the investment was intended to support a significant improvement, not another relegation battle. Tottenham’s two-week pause for international football now gives the manager time to address the start before domestic fixtures resume.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham renewed his argument on Thursday that football supporters should be allowed to drink alcohol in stadium areas with a view of the pitch. The existing law covers the Premier League and the other top five tiers of English football, allowing beer to be sold but requiring it to be consumed away from the action. Burnham said the legislation dated from an era when football was very different and argued that supporters were treated unfairly compared with spectators at other sports. Any change would require consultation with police forces and local authorities.

The proposal prompted a divided response from supporters and football figures. Worthing chairman Barry Hunter welcomed Burnham’s comments, particularly because the club has entered the restricted system after promotion into the National League, while a Shropshire Star survey found an overwhelmingly negative reaction among fans in its region. The Football Supporters’ Association welcomed the prime minister’s words, according to the Sussex Express. The debate is therefore moving towards the possibility of a monitored trial, rather than an immediate change to Premier League matchday rules.

Fulham midfielder Shea Charles said on Thursday that he was not allowing his record £30 million transfer fee to change his approach to football. Charles joined Fulham from Championship club Southampton during the summer, becoming the most expensive Northern Ireland footballer in history. Speaking to BBC Sport NI before Northern Ireland’s forthcoming Nations League fixtures, the midfielder described the achievement as “quite crazy” while focusing on the opportunity to play in the Premier League. The move gave the 22-year-old a step up to England’s top division after his time in the Championship.

Charles said he did not think about the price tag too much and credited his family and friends with helping him stay grounded. His comments reflected the challenge that comes with moving into a higher-profile environment while carrying a national transfer record. Fulham’s deal made him a notable figure in Northern Irish football, but Charles’s immediate priority was establishing himself at his new club and contributing for his country. The international break offered him a chance to discuss the transfer before the Premier League resumes.

Anthony Gordon said on Wednesday that Premier League players were likely to enter major summer tournaments more fatigued than players from other domestic leagues. The Newcastle winger argued that the intensity of English football created a particular physical burden, because matches against established sides and newly promoted clubs were consistently demanding. Gordon said: “Every game is so intense. Anyone can win a game.” He pointed to Hull’s unbeaten start before their defeat by Newcastle as an example of the competition’s depth and the level of effort required throughout a Premier League season.

Gordon’s comments formed part of the continuing inquest into England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina. England manager Thomas Tuchel had identified fatigue as a factor after the team played extra time against Norway in Miami heat and endured emotionally demanding victories over the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mexico. The discussion has raised a wider question about whether the Premier League’s intensity helps England’s competitiveness or leaves its players short of energy late in tournaments. That issue will remain relevant as the next international cycles develop.

Jack Ross revealed on Thursday that he had been promoted to assistant sporting director at Newcastle United. The former Hibernian, St Mirren and Dundee United manager announced the move in a LinkedIn post, stating that he was excited to take up the position. Ross had been working at Newcastle since April 2023, initially as interim head of coach development before moving through roles including head of strategic technical football partnerships and head of football strategy. His new position began in June 2026, according to the role details reported by The Herald.

Ross will work under sporting director Ross Wilson, the former Rangers chief who moved to Newcastle after leaving Nottingham Forest. The promotion represented a shift from Ross’s previous coaching career into a senior football operations role at a Premier League club. He had spent two years managing Hibernian and also worked with Alloa and St Mirren before taking charge of Sunderland. His move into Newcastle’s sporting structure gives the club an experienced football figure in a role spanning strategy and recruitment-related work.