'UEFA' surrounds Infantino: Resignation or vote of no confidence
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has entered the most serious crisis of his tenure, as the controversy surrounding his plan to privatize the World Cup has evolved into a European-led movement threatening his future at the helm of the international governing body, amid growing calls for his resignation or a vote of no confidence.
European media reports stated that UEFA is demanding Infantino’s resignation, confirming that all 55 member associations support a vote to remove him if he refuses to step down. Notably, UEFA requires the approval of only 43 associations to call for such a vote.
This escalation follows a wave of widespread criticism after Infantino proposed the World Cup privatization plan last week, which was rejected by several football associations and officials.
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UEFA, in a statement issued yesterday, declared that it had lost confidence in Infantino, calling for a change in the leadership of the non-profit organization responsible for managing global football, following FIFA’s reversal of its plan to sell stakes in World Cup commercial rights valued at $20 billion.
The European confederation welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon the controversial project, emphasizing that it would work with partners and stakeholders to ensure that similar steps are not taken in the future without consulting all relevant parties.
UEFA added that it had also lost confidence in several members of FIFA’s management, signaling an expansion of criticism within the organization.
FIFA had faced renewed calls for greater transparency after its sudden halt to the plan to sell a share of World Cup commercial rights, a move that sparked widespread objections from continental and regional associations, which stated they were caught off guard by the proposal.
This rapid reversal has highlighted growing concerns within football circles regarding Infantino’s leadership style, with demands for stricter oversight of decisions that could reshape the future of governance and commercial rights in the sport.
Reports indicated that Infantino was a candidate for the position of CEO or Commissioner of “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE), the proposed commercial company to manage FIFA’s commercial rights, with a base annual salary estimated at around $30 million, before bonuses.
