Several current and retired football players have joined forces to challenge FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is under pressure, saying that the FIFA leadership "must change."

Former Manchester United and French national team defender Mikael Silvestre, now a member of FIFA Players' Voice, posted a statement on social media on Monday titled "Enough is enough!"

England defender Lucy Bronz, Emmanuel Petit, a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, and former England goalkeeper Jonathan David James, among others, shared the statement on social media.

Previously, Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell shares in events including the World Cup to private investors sparked controversy. The statement indicated that the player "shares the exact same concerns as millions of fans around the world."

The statement criticized FIFA's operating methods, stating: "Under the current leadership of FIFA, we are watching as the football we love gradually deviates from its core values."

"For a long time, major decisions have been made without consulting the players, without considering their position, and without taking into account the fans who support the sport."

UEFA President Ceferin rules out running for FIFA president.

Some are demanding that Infantino stay away from youth competitions.

The statement continued: "Change is necessary. Power has clouded the judgment of the current leadership, making it unable to distinguish between its own interests and the best interests of football."

"A series of recent events have made silence no longer an option."

The statement also called for unity from the grassroots to the top of football to support FIFA's "structural reforms" that would give players and fans a "real and direct voice" in how football is governed.

In recent weeks, Infantino has faced continued pressure from the leadership, with several continental football federations reacting to the controversy surrounding FIFA's forward corporate initiatives.

UEFA has threatened to boycott all FIFA events. UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin stated that he expects Gianni Infantino to resign, or face a challenge in the March elections. Several national and regional football associations, including those of England, Wales, and Scotland, have already withdrawn their support.

Silvestre's involvement signifies a growing challenge within FIFA itself. FIFA has established a 16-member Players' Voice group to oversee and advise FIFA on addressing racism in football.

However, Infantino also received support from former Barcelona striker and Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o. Eto'o does not believe the FIFA president "did anything wrong."

"I remain convinced that this plan could have had an extraordinary impact on us Africans," Eto'o said in an interview with CNN on Monday.

"This plan could have rebalanced the power structure of the football world, ensuring that our talents would not disappear and that we would not ultimately represent other countries."

“Infantino changed football. He gave opportunities to countries that previously had no chance to participate in the most exciting competition, the World Cup. He enabled smaller countries to have a place in these competitions. He helped our continent and helped our football association develop faster, and we need to acknowledge that.”

UEFA President Ceferin rules out running for FIFA president.

FIFA official dismissed for criticizing Infantino's plans

Some are demanding that Infantino stay away from youth competitions.

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