Gianni Infantino’s position as president of FIFA faces significant uncertainty following his abrupt withdrawal of a controversial plan to sell stakes in a new commercial entity linked to the organization’s tournament rights and operations. The Swiss-based football governing body announced late Friday that it had scrapped the proposal after a strong backlash from regional confederations, national associations, and football officials worldwide.
The plan, revealed earlier in the week, aimed to create a separate company to oversee FIFA’s commercial activities and offer minority stakes to private investors. FIFA contended the scheme would accelerate football development globally and offered financial incentives to members supporting it. However, several key stakeholders criticized the initiative as a breach of governance and a unilateral decision that excluded broad consultation.
European football’s governing body UEFA was among the most vocal opponents, declaring a loss of confidence in FIFA’s leadership and warning that its member nations would boycott FIFA events if the plan moved forward. UEFA described the proposed deal as opaque and forced through without transparency, calling for accountability and a rebuilding of trust within global football.
Similarly, CONCACAF, the federation representing North, Central America, and the Caribbean, condemned the proposal as emblematic of leadership that prioritizes power over the sport. Their statement emphasized that football should remain collectively owned by the game’s community rather than controlled by any single individual, critiquing what they called a pattern of poor governance under Infantino’s tenure.
Further criticism came from significant figures such as Spain’s La Liga president Javier Tebas, who, while welcoming the plan’s cancellation, argued that the episode exposed deeper systemic governance issues at FIFA. Tebas cited concerns about centralized decision-making, lack of checks and balances, and previous controversial interventions, including the suspension of a red card for a player at the recent World Cup, which involved political influence. He called for new leadership focused on transparency and collaboration.
The head of Europe’s professional football leagues, Claudius Schaefer, also expressed doubts about Infantino’s ability to continue in his role, noting the secrecy surrounding the proposal and the lack of involvement from FIFA’s governing council. Schaefer suggested that such unilateral actions typically lead to resignation or removal in other organizations.
Despite mounting criticism, Infantino maintains support from several football federations, including those in Africa, South America, and Oceania, as well as key countries such as Qatar, Egypt, and Morocco—the latter being a co-host of the 2030 World Cup and host of the 2027 FIFA congress where Infantino is expected to seek re-election. Infantino himself has stated his intention to remain in office and to engage with all interested parties to unify the sport.
The deadline for presidential candidates to declare for the next election is in November, with some speculation about potential challengers, including Concacaf president Victor Montagliani. For now, Infantino’s future appears precarious as football’s global community calls for greater transparency, accountability, and reforms in governance.