Call for Infantino to resign comes in wake of wave of support

PARIS, AUG 7: Beleaguered FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received some much-needed support, after over a week of scathing criticism revolving around the now shelved private investment plan, but also on Friday there was a call for him to resign.

The 56-year-old Italian-Swiss lawyer's position remains far from assured despite support from friends he has made during his 10 years in power, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Mexican and Argentinian football federations.

FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

However, old ties have been cut loose.

European football's governing body, UEFA, who he served as secretary-general from 2009-16, is in open conflict with FIFA and on Thursday doubled down on last Saturday's statement saying it no longer has "confidence" in Infantino.

Its reaction came in the wake of Infantino gaining the full support of senior FIFA directors -- dismissed as those "whose careers depend on his favour" -- and UEFA repeated its threat of boycotting the World Cups. UEFA's deployment last Thursday of the nuclear option of the boycott is said to have been pivotal in forcing Infantino to shelve the private investment deal.    �"AFP