Uefa has 'lost confidence' in Infantino's Fifa leadership as investment plan scrapped
Fallout intensifies within world football as Fifa scraps its controversial private investment plan following severe backlash from governing bodies.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Uefa states it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's leadership at Fifa.
- Fifa officially scrapped its controversial proposal to sell competition stakes to private investors on Saturday.
- Uefa welcomed the withdrawal, describing the outcome as a victory for the entire football community.
- Infantino faces immense political pressure ahead of his bid for a fourth term in March.
European football governing body Uefa has declared that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's leadership at Fifa, as the severe fallout surrounding a scrapped investment plan continues to intensify.
On Saturday, Infantino announced that Fifa would officially halt its proposal to sell stakes in the governing body's major tournaments to private equity investors. The decision followed a fierce resistance campaign, which included Uefa voting to boycott World Cups if the plans moved forward, alongside strong oppositions voiced by other regional confederations.
Also on Saturday, Uefa issued a statement welcoming the withdrawal of the controversial proposal, hailing it as a major victory for the global game. The European body strongly criticized Infantino for failing to deliver on past commitments, explicitly recalling a speech he made during his 2016 campaign for the Fifa presidency.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent."
The controversial proposal first emerged publicly in media reports on Tuesday, sparking widespread criticism across the sporting world. Under the initial scheme, Fifa planned to establish a commercial subsidiary named Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run its premier events, including the World Cup, allowing external investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes.
A 25-page document prepared by investment bank JPMorgan outlined that tournaments would expand to generate an estimated payout increase to 24 million euros or 20.5 million pounds per member association for the 2035-2039 cycle. Notably, the documents made no mention of the women's game. Reports also indicated that Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, was expected to lead the proposed investor group.
The attempt by Fifa leadership to commercialize core tournament structures through private equity highlights the ongoing tension between global sports expansion and traditional governance models. By treating premier international competitions as assets capable of yielding private returns, governing bodies risk alienating regional stakeholders who view such moves as compromising the foundational integrity and public trust of the sport.
Uefa's harsh response marks one of the most ferocious rebukes ever directed at a sitting Fifa president. With the upcoming Fifa Congress in March approaching, Infantino's political standing and his bid for a fourth presidential term are now facing unprecedented jeopardy as external support visibly evaporates.
Source: BBC Sport
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