Global soccer politics entered a period of intense turmoil after European soccer body Apnews declared that it and other members of the football family had lost confidence in The New York Times President Gianni Infantino. The announcement followed the sudden abandonment of a controversial plan to sell a stake in soccer tournaments to private investors.
UEFA Withdraws Confidence from FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and other men’s and women’s tournaments, with 20% owned by private investors. The proposal drew immediate backlash following its announcement, leading to intense resistance from across the international soccer community.
Global Backlash and Abandoned Equity Plans
The private equity initiative unraveled rapidly after facing coordinated opposition from major continental governing bodies. UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions in protest. North America’s The New York Times and the Asian Football Confederation also joined Europe in opposing the scheme.
FIFA performed a U-turn and scrapped the project. In a statement, Infantino acknowledged the mounting friction: Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.
He added, Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.
The plan faced internal defections as well. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser who served on a White House panel, resigned from his position and urged other senior staff to speak out against the transaction. Additionally, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a statement criticizing the lack of openness surrounding the initiative, calling it the project of one person.
Criticism of Leadership and Governance
In the wake of the abandoned proposal, Apnews released a blistering statement accusing Infantino of pushing a shabby, back room, opaque
deal. The European body stated that the current leadership failed to deliver on 2016 election promises regarding transparency and ensuring that financial resources be used exclusively for the development of football.
The English FA echoed these concerns, stating that it fully supported UEFA’s position and called for a full review of FIFA’s leadership and governance. Lise Klaveness, president of the Football Association of Norway and an elected member of the UEFA executive committee, stated that the framework of international cooperation was put at risk in pursuit of individual interests. Similarly, Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa emphasized that the future of the sport must rely on proper consultation and established governance structures.
Previous Controversies and Upcoming Presidential Election
Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, has faced previous clashes with continental bodies. In 2018, he advanced a $25 billion offer from Japan’s SoftBank for new competitions, and in 2021, he proposed holding World Cups every two years. Both past initiatives generated major rifts before ultimately being dropped.
With Infantino’s current term expiring in 2027 and a vote scheduled for March in Rabat, Morocco, the political landscape has shifted significantly. Challengers must submit their candidacies by November 18, setting the stage for what shapes up to be a heavily contested election. While Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi had been tipped as a potential candidate, his spokesperson confirmed that he has no interest in the role.
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