Gianni Infantino has come under more pressure from within Fifa after the governing body’s secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described the abandoned World Cup sell-off plans as a “sad and reproachable series of events” in an internal email to staff.
Swedish official Grafstrom, who is one of Fifa’s top bosses, did not mention the embattled Fifa president by name but said in his email that while the turmoil surrounding Fifa is “difficult to comprehend and accept…. individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go”. Grafstrom’s email to Fifa staff was first reported by .
It comes after Arsene Wenger, Fifa’s chief of global football development, said Infantino’s decision to abandon his sell-off plan was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.
The former Arsenal manager claimed to have no knowledge of the plans before reports of Fifa selling off stakes in its tournaments to private investors emerged in the media. He said that Fifa has to serve the game with “commitment, transparency, and integrity”.
Infantino has been left fighting for his future after Uefa’s declaration of no confidence on Saturday was followed by statements from individual member associations withdrawing their support for the Fifa president.
The Football Association (FA) are set to follow the Football Association of Wales in doing so publicly, while Uefa’s opposition to Infantino’s plans was supported by two other confederations, in Asia and Concacaf.
Uefa confirmed that it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership after he went back on his plans, criticising the “shabby, backroom deal”, and has now written to the Fifa president confirming it is “actively considering” legal action in regard to the sell-off scheme.
The letter orders Infantino and Fifa to “take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or Fifa’s possession, custody, or control”.
There are calls for Infantino to resign, but as it stands he will run for re-election in March 2027. Uefa has indicated that “no option should be off the table” regarding the future of Infantino, hinting at the possibility of a no-confidence vote.
