Three of FIFA’s six confederations – UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF – issued a joint letter on Monday, vehemently criticizing President Gianni Infantino’s proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup commercial rights. The letter, co-signed by the presidents of these three bodies, accuses Infantino of ‘deception’ and ‘placing himself above the collective’ following the abandonment of a plan to carve off the commercial rights and sell 20% of them to private investors to raise approximately $4.2 billion. The letter signals a significant escalation in criticism, coming after a period of intense public backlash and a recent FIFA emergency meeting where only one FIFA official was present, prompting calls for an independent review. The three confederations view the proposed plan as a violation of trust and a fundamental breach of FIFA’s governing principles.
The proposal, initially unveiled in late 2023, centered on a sale of the commercial rights to the World Cup, sparking widespread controversy. Sources within the confederations, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the three bodies are actively pursuing a strategy of staging competitions amongst themselves to give players a chance to compete amidst the crisis with FIFA, a move driven by concerns over the president’s leadership.
European body UEFA, backed by Asia’s AFC and CONCACAF, which runs football in the Caribbean, North and Central America, has threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until a guarantee is secured that no similar schemes will be proposed in the future. The three confederations are investigating the possibility of staging competitions amongst themselves to give players the chance to compete amid the crisis with FIFA, the sources said.
FIFA responded with a blistering attack on Infantino, warning against any challenge to his leadership and emphasizing the importance of maintaining democratic governance and transparency. The statement underscored the critical role of FIFA in upholding the sport’s integrity and echoed the sentiments of several bodies that have previously voiced concerns about Infantino’s actions. U.S. Soccer, Canada Soccer, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, and CAF, the confederation of African Football, all publicly pledged their support for Infantino, citing his recent success in the 2026 World Cup and his leadership during the tournament. However, concerns persist regarding a company linked to Trump’s son in law’s involvement in the controversial stake-sale plan, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. The controversy has amplified calls for independent review, with FIFA’s statement indicating that attempts to challenge his leadership must follow the governing body’s statutes and democratic procedures. The FIFA presidential election in March is rapidly approaching, and Infantino has apologized for mistakes made during the stake sale proposal ‘but the letter from the three confederations said that was not enough,’ further intensifying the pressure.
As of November 18th, over 70 FIFA member associations have publicly stated their support for Infantino, with the first round of voting expected to begin in March. The ultimate outcome of the election will determine Infantino’s presidency until 2031, and the three confederations are actively seeking to ensure that the appropriate process is followed, potentially leading to a series of rivalries among the associations.
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Source: Adom Sports
