UEFA Loses Trust in Infantino Amid FIFA Crisis
Gianni Infantino's presidency at FIFA is facing a severe crisis. Football associations worldwide have criticized his leadership, despite his recent decision to abandon a controversial plan for private investment.
UEFA stated, “No option should be dismissed in advance,” just hours after FIFA announced the withdrawal of the plan.
The plan, presented on Tuesday, aimed to attract up to $4.2 billion for a new commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which was supposed to organize tournaments like the World Cup.
If approved, each of the 211 FIFA member associations could receive a one-time payment of $20 million at the beginning of 2027, with funding for the 2027–2030 cycle increasing from $8 million to $20 million.
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UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin led the criticism of Infantino, stating that “the current FIFA leadership has lost trust not only from UEFA but also from many others.” UEFA emphasized that it cannot continue working with “secret schemes” developed without regard for the game’s interests.
UEFA also noted that Infantino has not fulfilled his promises of transparency made during his election in 2016.
CONCACAF Calls for Investigation
Later on Saturday, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) called for a “comprehensive investigation into this presidency” and accused Infantino of “failed management.”
According to CONCACAF, Infantino's plan was pushed through without transparency, consultation, or adherence to proper procedures.
The Football Association of England also called for a thorough investigation of FIFA’s leadership to ensure transparent governance.
The German Football Association (DFB) urged a complete overhaul within FIFA to establish a new culture of decision-making.
