UEFA to Infantino: Resign or We Will Vote to Remove You
European football's governing body threatened an emergency vote of no confidence after the FIFA president withdrew a controversial plan to sell World Cup stakes.
European football's governing body threatened an emergency vote of no confidence after the FIFA president withdrew a controversial plan to sell World Cup stakes.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing an ultimatum from European football's governing body (UEFA): resign or face an emergency vote of no confidence. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, all 55 UEFA member associations would vote for his removal if he refuses to step down, with only 43 members needed to trigger such a process.
This escalation followed Infantino's forced withdrawal on Saturday of a controversial £15 billion (around $28 billion) plan to sell 30 percent of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors. The plan sparked fierce backlash and open rebellion within FIFA itself, with UEFA issuing a sharp statement saying the leadership had lost its confidence.
UEFA did not mince words in its condemnation. "We cannot continue like this, with secretive moves made at incredible speed, orchestrated by faceless individuals whose interest in the sport is questionable. We must identify those responsible and hold them accountable," read the statement, as reported by Zadarski list. The European federation added that "the current FIFA leadership has lost not only UEFA's confidence but also the confidence of many other members of the football family."
Pressure also came from across the Atlantic. CONCACAF, the federation representing North and Central America, also called for change, calling Infantino's move "an outrageous act of poor governance and leadership." In its statement, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, CONCACAF emphasized: "The events of recent days have exposed something that can no longer be ignored: the future of the FIFA World Cup, the greatest asset in world football, was being decided outside all established governance frameworks, without transparency, consultation, or due process."
The English Football Association (FA) fully backed UEFA's stance. "It is time for a full and thorough review of FIFA's leadership and governance to ensure the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member associations, with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart," the FA said in a statement.
Infantino withdrew the controversial plan on Saturday, a move UEFA welcomed as "a victory for the whole of football." However, the European federation made clear this is not the end of the story. "The proposal is gone. The task of restoring trust in FIFA has only just begun," they stated. UEFA announced it would work with its member associations and other confederations in the coming days and weeks to ensure such a situation does not recur.
While most of the world turned against him, Infantino received support from Qatar. The president of the Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, said: "We welcome FIFA President Gianni Infantino's decision to withdraw the proposal in the interest of the global football community." He added that he "fully supports President Infantino's efforts to continue developing and strengthening the game globally."
The plan caused an earthquake within the organization itself. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to the president, resigned in protest, while FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, said employees had been "deceived." The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also opposed the plan, expressing solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in protecting the World Cup. Infantino thus failed to secure support from more than 50 percent of FIFA's 211 member associations.
Political pressure was further intensified by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who called on Infantino to step down. Even his close ally, US President Donald Trump, did not come to his defense, revealing that he had not been consulted about the plan at all. Political strategist Ashish Prashar backed UEFA's move, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: "Infantino orchestrated an attempt to steal and destroy football to line his own pockets."
FIFA presidential elections are scheduled for March 2027, and according to Zadarski list, Gianni Infantino is currently the only candidate to have declared his intention to run again.
