Former Chelsea and Manchester United star Juan Mata has launched a new initiative, Unleash Football, aimed at influencing next year's Fifa presidential election. The platform seeks to gather insights from fans and players on how they believe the sport should be managed.
Mata, a World Cup winner with Spain, stated, "The people who care most deeply about the game should have an equal voice in its future." He plans to present the findings, dubbed a 'Mandate', to current Fifa boss Gianni Infantino and any opposing candidates in November, shortly before nominations for the election close.
Unleash Football is a collaboration between Mata and Jurgen Griesbeck, co-founders of Common Goal. The initiative comes amidst calls for changes to Fifa's operations, following the abandoned plan to partially privatise the World Cup.
Gianni Infantino, who has been in office for 10 years, is currently expected to stand unopposed in the March election, though Canadian Victor Montagliani is seen as a potential rival.