FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting criticism from three major continental football confederations following his controversial privatisation proposal. The European, Asian, and North American governing bodies jointly condemned the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions, asserting that football belongs to the sport itself rather than any single individual.
In their statement, the confederations emphasised that leadership represents a responsibility to serve the collective, not a tool for personal power. They expressed deep concern over what they describe as a betrayal of trust, pointing to Infantino’s initial launch and subsequent withdrawal of the investment scheme. The three bodies have demanded a fully independent investigation into the proposal, one that would operate entirely outside FIFA’s influence.
The unified response demonstrates that opposition to Infantino’s leadership remains substantive despite his efforts to rally support. An emergency FIFA meeting in Morocco last week attempted to contain the controversy, but the confederations argue insufficient representation of elected officials undermined its legitimacy. However, Infantino has secured backing from other confederations and numerous member associations, creating a divided landscape within world football’s governing structure.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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