Gianni Infantino is under mounting pressure from football federations as well as from within Fifa after Uefa’s boycott of the World Cup left his plans to privatise its tournaments in tatters.
Infantino’s long-term adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a key figure within Fifa, has quit in protest of Infantino’s proposals, while Fifa’s chief operating officer has said that Infantino “deceived” staff over his plans. The Asian Football Confederation, meanwhile, has become the third federation to reject them publicly, releasing a strong statement on Friday backing the stance of Uefa and Concacaf, while claiming that confidence in Fifa’s governance has been “undermined”.
Donald Trump meanwhile told reporters on Friday that he has not spoken to Infantino about the plans despite their close relationship and the fact that Josh Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, is expected to lead the proposed investor group.
It all resulted in Infantino officially scrapping the plans to sell off a stake in the World Cup, but the Fifa president remains under intense scrutiny with many associations feeling his position is untenable.
Follow all the latest news after Uefa’s bombshell boycott threat, below
CONFIRMED: Fifa scraps plan to sell World Cup stakes after boycott threat and widespread backlash
Fifa has scrapped its plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, after widespread backlash and threats of a boycott.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed the controversial plan in July, declaring that a vote would determine whether or not it would go ahead, but there was anger and concern from many voices in the footballing world.
Full story:
Football has spoken: Gianni Infantino must go
Fifa’s president operates with arrogance and autonomy – the worldwide rejection of his proposals to sell off stakes in the World Cup has to now stand for as a final rejection of Infantino himself, writes Jamie Braidwood.
Football has spoken: Gianni Infantino must go
What have the governing bodies said?
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) later joined Uefa and Concacaf in rejecting Fifa’s proposal.
The AFC’s statement read: “The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing serious concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into Fifa’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.”
It continued: “The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.”
What have the governing bodies said?
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Uefa confirmed: “No Uefa national teams will participate in any Fifa competition for so long as these proposals remain alive.
“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football,” Uefa added. “The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in Fifa competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.”
Concacaf, the governing body that represents North and Central America as well as the Caribbean followed Uefa in rejecting Fifa’s plan.
A press release from Concacaf underscored their opposition, stating: “The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance. For these reasons, Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have: Rejected the proposal.”
How could a Uefa boycott affect the 2030 World Cup?
If both the privatisation proposal and 64-team World Cup expansion are passed, two thirds of the primary host nations – Spain and Portugal – would not be competing at the 2030 edition.
Fellow co-host Morocco’s stance towards FFE is not yet know, with African confederation Caf yet to back or reject the plan after initially displaying openness to the consultation.
There will also be one match held apiece in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina at the 2030 World Cup in honour of the tournament’s centenary.
No statement has yet been made by South America’s confederation Connebol on FFE, though president Alejandro Dominguez has already said he is in favour of an expansion to 64 teams.
Fifa accelerate plans for 64-team World Cup amid Gianni Infantino sell-off proposal
The world football governing body has faced staunch opposition to the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) – the name for the commercial entity – with Uefa confirming they will boycott Fifa competitions, including the next World Cup, if plans go ahead.
A private document, first revealed by Martin Ziegler of The Times, shows that Fifa issued a brief for further World Cup expansion on Thursday 30 July.
COO says he will ‘sleep well’ having spoken out in explosive statement
Lamour added that Fifa staff “deserve better than contempt and intimidation” and said that the plan was “the project of one person”.
He did not mention Infantino by name. Lamour has worked with the Swiss at both Fifa and Uefa.
He continued: “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
“Our mission – the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees – is to serve football.
“A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite.”
Of his decision to speak out, he said: “If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Fifa chief says administration ‘deceived’ by plans
Kevin Lamour, Fifa’s chief operating officer and about as high up as you can get in the organisation, just two rungs below Infantino, released an explosive statement condemning the plans earlier today.
He said in a statement to Associated Press: “What has been announced in recent days and what has been happening behind the scenes in recent months defies belief and imagination”.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission,” he wrote.
“I have no authority to speak on behalf of my colleagues, and perhaps I am mistaken. But my feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us.
“I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to support my colleagues.”
Burnham says Gianni Infantino is ‘wrong man to lead’ Fifa and calls for him to quit
Burnham insisted that Infantino is “the wrong man to lead the organisation” amid a global outcry against the controversial investment scheme.
Burnham, a devoted Everton supporter, told reporters during a visit to Sheffield: “This was an outrageous suggestion. The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, that the Fifa is the wrong man to lead the organisation.”
Football chiefs discuss vote of no confidence as Infantino under increasing threat
Football chiefs will consider whether to push for a vote of no confidence on Gianni Infantino following another day of drastic developments surrounding the embattled Fifa president.
But Infantino’s game-breaking Fifa Forward Enterprise plan is described as “not dead yet”, with the Swiss official still pushing on with his controversial plans after the global governing body issued another round of “clarifications” overnight.
Federation chiefs have already started talking about the process of a vote of no confidence, which would first necessitate a meeting of the Fifa Council and then 43 member associations – a quarter of the 211 – to push for an Extraordinary Congress.
Before that, though, everyone is waiting to see how the dust settles. Football chiefs have even felt it’s all been happening too fast to even properly register.
