In brief
European football governing body UEFA has announced it no longer trusts Gianni Infantino’s leadership in FIFA, citing a failed investment proposal that would have sold stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors. After the plan was scrapped, UEFA praised the withdrawal as a win for the sport and accused Infantino of missing key promises he made when elected. FIFA’s chief operating officer and senior adviser resigned, pointing to a ‘bad deal for football.’ The fallout also led two additional confederations to criticize the initiative, hinting at broader governance unrest. Whether Infantino can recover the trust of global football stakeholders remains uncertain.
UEFA says it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s FIFA leadership as the fallout from the scrapped controversial investment plan intensifies.
On Saturday, Infantino said FIFA would no longer proceed with the proposal to sell stakes in the governing body’s competitions to private investors.
UEFA, which governs European football, had earlier voted to boycott World Cups if the plans went ahead, and other governing bodies also voiced their opposition.
In a lengthy statement, UEFA welcomed the decision to withdraw the plan, calling it "a victory for the whole game".
The statement also accused Infantino of failing to deliver on promises made at his election, citing his 2016 campaign pledge for transparency and the proper use of FIFA funds for football development.
"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," the statement read. It further quoted Infantino’s 2016 speech, accusing him of "shabby, back‑room, opaque" dealings that betrayed the original commitment.
On Friday, FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said the governing body’s own administration had been "deceived" about the project.
Carlos Cordeiro—Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance—resigned, calling the proposal a bad deal and a threat to football’s future.
The controversy also prompted two other major confederations to speak out against the investment plan.
More to follow.
