Football’s four most powerful leagues have joined forces to call for Fifa to commit to reform, regardless of whether Gianni Infantino remains president.

The Premier League and its counterparts in Germany, Spain and Italy – the Bundesliga, LaLiga and Serie A – want whoever wins next year’s presidential election to “convene an independently chaired Governance Convention” within their first 100 days in office.

They have also demanded “a meaningful role in Fifa’s decision-making process” for leagues, clubs and players, greater transparency and a devolution of power from the president’s office.

It comes after Infantino this week suggested an external review of Fifa following the huge backlash to his now-dropped plans to partially privatise the World Cup.

The four leagues have long-running disputes with Fifa over its unilateral decision-making on issues such as the international calendar and expansion of its competitions.

“We are speaking up together, as founding members of European Leagues and the World Leagues Association, because we understand how Fifa’s relentless expansionism affects everyone,” they said.

They added: “This must change now for the sake of football. At this crucial time for our sport, we encourage candidates for the Fifa presidency to endorse these principles and, within the first 100 days of the next presidential mandate, to convene an independently chaired Governance Convention representing member associations and the wider football community, mandated to report publicly within six months.

“All candidates for the Fifa presidency should publish their own reform programme, debate its contents and adhere to fair election rules.”

The leagues did not mention Infantino by name but appeared to make thinly-veiled criticism of his use of private jets and the governing body’s social media to promote his own profile.

“Fifa’s financial, legal, communications and marketing resources, as well as its football development funds, must remain strictly neutral and never create an electoral advantage for any candidate,” they said.

Fifa governance problem goes beyond Infantino

Infantino is currently set to stand unopposed in the Fifa election in March, despite facing calls to quit from Europe, North America and Asia since his plan to sell stakes in a new company that would manage Fifa’s commercial income to private investors leaked in July.

Canadian Victor Montagliani is considered his most likely rival but has not declared an intention to run for the Fifa presidency. Candidates have until mid-November to indicate they will stand.

“Fifa’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual,” the leagues said. 

“The wider question is whether Fifa’s president should simultaneously wield such regulatory, commercial and political power without effective checks and balances, including the agreement of affected stakeholders. 

“More than a decade ago, following criminal proceedings involving senior football officials, Fifa’s own reform process sought to address these issues – yet, once again, football has suffered one of the biggest abuses of power in Fifa’s history.”

Speaking this week, Infantino said he had “never been more determined” to do “what is right for the game”.

“We have a council meeting next month, so we will continue to have dialogue on these important matters,” he said. “There must be a culture of dialogue, of listening to each other and respecting each other.”