Football legends from across Brazil and Argentina, including World Cup winners Cafu and Roberto Carlos and iconic full-back Javier Zanetti have come out in support of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The 56-year-old, who has been at the helm of FIFA since February 2016, has faced widespread calls to step down from his role as president following his plans to sell stakes in the World Cup rights to private investors.
That plan has ultimately been withdrawn due to the backlash, but it has not stopped several confederations, including UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, as well as further nations from other confederations and other former iconic players from calling for Infantino to resign.
Cafu, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Pastore and others posted a statement which was almost word for word the exact same.
It read: "Over the past ten years we have witnessed the work done by FIFA and President Infantino to achieve representation for footballers in the world of football, something that did not exist before."
They later added: "Players have been given a voice and a place in our sport through participation in committees, projects, and working groups.
"Our opinions are heard, and many initiatives that benefit football are shaped thanks to our reflections, ideas, plans, and participation.
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"We will remain ready to support the great evolution that our sport has undergone in the last decade so that it continues to reach and benefit people in all countries where football is played," they concluded.
The statement of the South American legends comes after their European counterparts called for Infantino to step down.
French World Cup winners Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires and Bixente Lizarazu as well as Ivorian great Didier Drogba called for a "necessary change" as "power has clouded the ability of the current leadership to distinguish between their own interests and what is really best for football."
They also said: "Recent events have made it impossible to remain silent any longer. Enough is enough."