FIFA leadership under fire as UEFA says Gianni Infantino has lost its trust
European football’s governing body welcomes the withdrawal of FIFA’s investment plan but calls for sweeping governance reforms.
UEFA intensifies pressure on FIFA after the governing body withdraws its controversial investment proposal.
FIFA is facing mounting pressure after UEFA declared it has lost confidence in President Gianni Infantino, following the governing body’s decision to abandon a controversial proposal to sell stakes in its major competitions to private investors. The dispute has intensified ahead of the FIFA Congress, where Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term as president.
UEFA described FIFA’s decision to scrap the investment plan as “a victory for the whole game” but warned that rebuilding trust in world football’s governing body remains an urgent priority.
The investment proposal would have created a commercial subsidiary to manage FIFA’s flagship competitions, including the Men’s World Cup, while allowing minority private investment. Critics argued the plan risked turning football’s biggest tournaments into commercial assets at the expense of the sport’s long-term interests.
UEFA launches sharp criticism
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA accused the current FIFA leadership of abandoning the transparency and accountability promises Infantino made when he first sought the presidency in 2016.
The organisation said the proposed investment structure lacked openness and criticised what it described as a “secret” and “opaque” process. UEFA also urged FIFA to identify those responsible for developing the proposal and ensure greater accountability in future governance.
The European governing body pledged to work with member associations and other football confederations to prevent similar proposals from emerging again and called for reforms to improve how FIFA distributes resources through its existing development programmes.
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Growing international opposition
UEFA had previously threatened to boycott future World Cups if the investment proposal moved forward. The opposition quickly gained momentum, with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also expressing concerns over the plan.
The Football Association (FA) backed UEFA’s position, saying FIFA’s leadership and governance now require a comprehensive review to restore transparency and confidence across the global game.
Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness also welcomed the withdrawal, warning that international football cooperation had been unnecessarily placed at risk.
Pressure mounts on Infantino
The controversy comes at a critical time for Infantino, who is expected to seek re-election for a fourth presidential term at the FIFA Congress in March.
Reports indicate that FIFA officials themselves questioned the proposal, while senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, describing the investment initiative as “a bad deal for football” that would have mortgaged the sport’s future.
The abandoned plan reportedly involved creating a new commercial entity that would oversee FIFA’s major tournaments, with private investors acquiring minority stakes. Investment firm Thrive Eternal, backed by American venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, had been expected to lead the investor group.
Although FIFA has withdrawn the proposal, UEFA insists the decision marks only the beginning of a wider effort to restore confidence in the governance of world football.
