European football’s governing body has lost confidence in Infantino following the collapse of his controversial plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and the continent’s federations are prepared to trigger the process unless Infantino steps down voluntarily.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, UEFA said the current FIFA leadership had “lost UEFA’s confidence” and that of many other members of the football family. The organisation declared that “no option should be off the table” as it works with other confederations to ensure such proposals cannot happen again.
The crisis erupted after Infantino pushed a multi-billion-pound private equity plan that would have created a new commercial entity around FIFA’s biggest tournaments. The proposal triggered widespread outrage, with UEFA threatening a boycott of all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Senior FIFA figures, including adviser Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest, while CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also voiced strong opposition.
Infantino was forced to abandon the plan in the early hours of Saturday. However, UEFA made clear that withdrawing the proposal does not resolve the deeper issues of governance and transparency.
The Telegraph reported that all 55 UEFA nations are ready to support a no-confidence motion if Infantino refuses to resign. UEFA can initiate such a process with the backing of 43 member associations.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016. His current term runs until 2027, when he is expected to seek re-election. The latest developments represent the most serious challenge to his leadership to date.