UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF have expressed their discontent with Infantino regarding the sale of World Cup stakes.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, which oversees football in the Caribbean, North and Central America, released an open letter on Monday criticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his behavior regarding the proposed sale of a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup.
The statement, which nearly called for a change in leadership,saidd that Infantino had eroded trust “through deception” with the now discarded proposal, had “placed himself above the collective,” and the three confederations demanded a completely independent review of the events that transpired. “Football’s strength has always been its unity,” their open letter to the football community expressed. We urge that unity be respected currently, advocating for leadership that supports football rather than seeks to dominate it.
The Swiss administrator has encountered significant backlash in the football community following his proposal and subsequent withdrawal of a plan to separate the commercial rights to the World Cup and sell 20% of them to private investors to generate approximately $4.2 billion.
Sources close to the proceedings indicated that the confederations perceived this letter as a chance for Infantino, who is aiming for re-election next year, to resign while maintaining his dignity.
UEFA, supported by the AFC and CONCACAF, has warned of a potential FIFA tournament boycott unless future initiatives are guaranteed to be free of similar suggestions. “Leadership in football is not a possession,” they stated in a statement released on Monday. It is not about possessing—or insisting on—power to be possessed. It is a responsibility to serve the football community that places its trust in us.
“When trust is shattered by deceit, and an individual elevates himself above the collective that granted him authority, that responsibility has been forsaken.”
The three confederations are exploring the potential of organizing competitions among themselves to provide players with an opportunity to compete during the ongoing crisis with FIFA, according to sources.
INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT
Criticism was directed at a FIFA emergency meeting held in Morocco last week, highlighting that only one elected official was in attendance. Additionally, there were calls for an independent review, free from FIFA’s involvement, to ascertain the factors that contributed to this “profound failure of judgment.
On Friday, Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) and viewed by some as a possible successor to Infantino, urged the 56-year-old to resign from the presidency without delay. Klaveness has consistently voiced strong criticism of Infantino.
Following the resolution of internal disagreements during the emergency meeting on Wednesday, FIFA extended its apologies to the 211 federations, while Infantino garnered support from the six confederations that constitute the global governing body.
Africa’s confederation, CAF, issued a statement on behalf of its 54 members supporting Infantino on Thursday, with CONCACAF member Mexico joining in, along with South American nations Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
On Friday, while Infantino was present at the inauguration of Colombia’s new president Abelardo De La Espriella in Cali, FIFA issued a strong condemnation of the president’s critics.
It cautioned about what it described as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to weaken Infantino, stating that any attempts to contest his leadership must adhere to the governing body’s statutes and democratic processes.
FIFA reiterated the statements made by various organizations that backed Infantino, including a statement from the South American confederation, CONMEBOL.
FIFA issued a statement following reports from The Daily Telegraph regarding payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino’s tenure as general secretary of the European governing body. Infantino has denied these allegations, which FIFA has deemed unfounded.
Nearly 70 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have publicly declared their intention to vote for Infantino, while approximately a dozen have either retracted their previously pledged support or announced that they will not cast their votes in his favor. Infantino would require a two-thirds majority in the initial voting round or a simple majority in the following rounds to prolong his presidency until 2031.
Aside from UEFA, the confederations expressing a lack of confidence in Infantino are not entirely cohesive, as several Asian nations and Mexico from CONCACAF continue to support him.
