Infantino’s position as FIFA president looks untenable, head of European league says

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 3, 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces increasing doubts about his leadership after attempting to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights without consulting FIFA’s governing bodies. The move sparked strong opposition from key regional associations and has intensified concerns over governance and the impact of expanded tournaments on the international football calendar.

Gianni Infantino’s position as president of FIFA is increasingly uncertain following the fallout from his recent attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, according to Claudius Schaefer, head of Europe’s professional football leagues. Schaefer, whose organization represents 53 professional men’s and women’s leagues, said Sunday that the move, which came without the involvement of FIFA’s key decision-making bodies, could leave Infantino’s future at the organization in jeopardy.

Speaking to Swiss media, Schaefer criticized the plan as a unilateral decision by Infantino. “When I saw how this whole thing unfolded and that FIFA’s key bodies weren’t involved, then there’s essentially only one consequence in any company or association,” Schaefer said. Asked if this meant the FIFA president was now unacceptable, he replied that such business maneuvers typically result in loss of confidence in leadership.

The controversy began when FIFA announced its intention to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, aiming to maximize revenues by expanding the number and size of future tournaments. The plan was met with strong opposition from regional associations, including UEFA and CONCACAF, which both publicly expressed their lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership by Saturday.

Infantino responded by withdrawing the proposal on Friday following the widespread backlash. Schaefer added that the initiative signaled FIFA’s prioritization of financial gains at the expense of other considerations, particularly the strain on the international football calendar. He noted the European Leagues’ concerns that adding more matches would adversely affect domestic championships.

“Nobody knew about the plans, not even the FIFA Council, the governing body of FIFA,” Schaefer said. “I was very surprised that the president was acting completely alone in this matter.” The episode has deepened tensions within FIFA and raised questions about the transparency and governance of the organization under Infantino’s stewardship.

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