Nasser Al-Khelaifi: Football Is “Bigger and More Important Than Any One of Us”

European Football Clubs (EFC) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has criticised the current state of world football, saying the sport is “wasting our time” dealing with problems and disputes instead of focusing on improving the game.

Al-Khelaifi’s comments come amid growing tensions between European club representatives and FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the direction and governance of world football.

Speaking about the importance of clubs to the international game, the Paris Saint-Germain president pointed to the huge contribution European clubs made to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We all watched the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer — 857 players came from European clubs, that is nearly 70% of all the players and the equivalent make-up of 33 of the 48 teams,” Al-Khelaifi said.

He stressed that clubs are proud to see their players represent their respective countries, regardless of the national shirt they wear.

“We are so proud to have our players playing for the national teams — we have pride in every football shirt they wear,” he added.

However, Al-Khelaifi believes the ongoing disputes are taking attention away from the sport itself.

“It is really sad to see the situation today. Instead of improving our game, we are wasting our time dealing with problems and issues,” he said.

The EFC chairman called for greater transparency, communication and cooperation between football’s various stakeholders, insisting that disagreements should not overshadow the wider interests of the game.

“Football works when we listen to each other. When we are transparent between us. When we love football and work for football, and nothing else,” he said.

Al-Khelaifi concluded with a message calling for football to remain bigger than individual interests and personalities.

“Whatever our differences — football is bigger and more important than any one of us.”