Thierry Henry has called on footballers to recognize their collective strength in shaping the sport's governance, stating that they possess more influence than they often realize. The former Arsenal, Barcelona, and France striker made the comments during an interview with the Guardian on Tuesday, alongside CBS colleagues Kate Scott and Jamie Carragher, as the network prepares for its Champions League coverage.
Players hold the key to change, says Henry
“For me, the players have more power than they think they have,” Henry said. “And if they want it to change, they can make it happen – especially nowadays.” His remarks come as Fifa faces intense public scrutiny following multiple scandals surrounding the 2026 World Cup, including reports that president Gianni Infantino attempted to sell the tournament's commercial rights.
The ensuing backlash has seen Infantino face significant criticism, with Uefa reportedly exploring legal options against him. Henry, now a pundit, emphasized that players should not underestimate their ability to influence the direction of the game, drawing parallels to how player activism has driven change in other sports.
Scott draws parallels to Super League backlash
Kate Scott, who anchors the CBS panel featuring Henry, Carragher, and Micah Richards, discussed the 2021 Super League project and its collapse, which was chronicled in an Apple TV documentary. That episode pitted the business interests of elite clubs against the broader football community, including players, coaches, and fans. Scott sees similarities in the current situation with Fifa.
“I think it’s going to be really interesting to see [what comes next],” Scott said. “I think probably a large portion of world football has come to a point where they would like to see a change in [the Fifa presidency], similarly to the way we felt about [the Super League] … I think if you’re invested in the game and you love the game, it just kind of leaves a bad taste.”
Infantino’s unopposed reign and the 2027 vote
Infantino has been re-elected twice since 2016, both times without a challenger. The next presidential vote is scheduled for 18 March 2027, and no alternative candidate has yet declared their intention to run. Scott acknowledged the difficulty of unseating Infantino, describing him as a “very smart power broker” who has mastered the art of building and leveraging alliances.
“I have no idea which way that will go, because obviously one thing that Gianni Infantino has proven to be within world football is a very smart power broker and has understood how to make allies, use those allies to his benefit,” she said.
Henry urges players to use their voice
For Henry, the solution lies in the collective action of players. “Players have all the power if they want to, and sometimes they don’t, I think, use it or realize actually the power that they have,” he said. “You guys in the US know fully well: when the player wants to do something, the league listens. You saw it with the NBA. You saw it with the NFL … At one point, the players are always on the side: go entertain, take your money, leave.”
Henry concluded by questioning the impact of punditry alone, stating, “Us debating about it here, what’s going to change? We can all have a view whether it’s a good one or a bad one … But for me, the players have more power than they think they have. And if they want it to change, they can make it happen – especially nowadays.” The next Fifa presidential election remains set for March 2027, with no challenger yet to emerge against Infantino.
