UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF turn on Infantino

Published : Monday, 10 August, 2026 at 6:06 PM

Observer Online Desk

Collected Photo

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under renewed pressure after UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly criticised his leadership, accusing him of a “breach of trust through deception” and warning that football “is not the personal property of any individual.”

In an open letter signed by the presidents and secretaries general of the three confederations, the organisations said the recent controversy surrounding FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) was fundamentally about “integrity in football and the credibility of those elected to govern the game.”

Under the proposed FFE plan, a new company would have been established to manage the commercial and ticketing rights of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The plan reportedly involved selling a 21 percent stake in the company to a private investment firm.

FIFA scrapped the proposal on August 1 following opposition from the AFC, CONCACAF and UEFA. UEFA had led the resistance and threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over the plan.

The joint letter said, “When trust is breached through deception, and an individual places himself above those to whom he has been entrusted, he effectively abandons the responsibilities and duties of his office.”

It added, “Leadership of football is not personal property. It is not about clinging to power or exercising power. It is a mandate entrusted to serve the football family that has given that responsibility.”

Although Infantino was not named directly in the letter, sources told BBC Sport that it should be viewed as an opportunity for him to resign with dignity.

UEFA has previously said it has lost confidence in Infantino, while the Norwegian Football Federation has also called for his resignation. Players’ union FIFPRO has accused him of an “extreme abuse of power.” UEFA has maintained its threat to boycott the World Cup despite an apology from Infantino.

Infantino, who has led FIFA for 10 years, is seeking a fourth and final term as president at the election scheduled for March next year in Rabat, Morocco. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani could challenge him. Candidates must be announced by November 18.

Infantino still retains significant support. FIFA’s top executives expressed their backing for his leadership at a meeting in Morocco, while the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have also supported him. Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Qatar and Kuwait are among the countries that have backed his leadership.

FIFA said in a statement on Saturday that there was a “well-organised and continuous campaign” aimed at weakening the governing body and Infantino. The organisation also said any challenge to his leadership must follow FIFA’s statutes and democratic procedures.

The three confederations, however, dismissed the significance of the meeting in Morocco where Infantino received “full support.” They questioned why FIFA officials had not been brought together at the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich and why only a limited number of members had been flown abroad for an emergency meeting.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be that of a guardian of football, but rather that of an individual who believes football is accountable to him,” the letter said.

The confederations also pointed to a recent FIFA letter to its vice-presidents and 211 member associations, in which FIFA acknowledged that there had been mistakes in the process. While FIFA described the issue as a “communication gap,” the three confederations said the football world viewed it as a “failure of judgement of the highest order.”

-HIS