A new football players’ group, AIF, is being launched to challenge FIFPRO’s global trade union role

A new international group representing football players was launched on Thursday as a rival to long-standing global union FIFPRO, which is in conflict with FIFA.

The Association of International Footballers (AIF) was founded in Madrid by David Aganzo, president of the new group which claims it will represent almost 30,000 players. Aganzo also heads the players’ association in Spain (AFE) and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024.

Aganzo and other officials met twice last year with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in what was widely seen as a challenge by the world soccer body to the mandate of Netherlands-based FIFPRO to represent players around the world.

FIFA is the subject of a formal complaint filed 18 months ago with the European Commission in Brussels by the European division of FIFPRO and the European Leagues group. The filing questions the quality of FIFA’s governance and consultation with stakeholders.

FIFA said on Thursday that it had been informed of the establishment of AIF and “remains committed to open and constructive cooperation with stakeholders in the world of football who uphold core principles, including representativeness.”

FIFPRO criticized the new group.

“FIFPRO recognizes AFE’s strong work for men’s footballers in Spain over decades,” the company said in a statement.

“However, the concept announced by the current president in Madrid appears to be nothing more than a speculative attempt to increase his own position through a group that lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers worldwide,” it added.

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FIFPRO said the new concept was “driven by personal motives rather than a mandate from players around the world.”

Aganzo said the new players’ union model was partly necessary because players’ voices were not being heard through FIFPRO. The new group said female players also needed stronger representation.

«Footballers need a stronger voice. They don’t have the ability to make decisions. AIF was created to fight for them,» Aganzo said.

FIFPRO said Aganzo “has engaged with groups that do not meet basic standards of player representation,” which it said “must be responsible and sustainable, built from the players onwards, through collective structures that guarantee independence, legitimacy and accountability.”

“Such an approach to player representation is not in the best interests of professional footballers,” FIFPRO added.

FIFPRO claims its role is based on a mandate from 70 national players’ associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognized by the European Union and international football governing bodies and stakeholders.

AIF will be governed by members of trade unions in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland.

Published on April 23, 2026