FIFA defends Infantino as leadership crisis deepens over failed private equity plan
Football's governing body says attempts to remove its president must follow democratic processes as pressure mounts from European and other confederations.
FIFA has accused its critics of a coordinated campaign to undermine president Gianni Infantino, issuing a forceful statement on Saturday that attempts to challenge his leadership must follow the organisation's statutes and democratic procedures. The intervention comes as the Swiss-Italian administrator faces the most serious threat to his authority since taking office in 2016.
The crisis erupted after Infantino's proposal to raise roughly $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments collapsed under fierce opposition. UEFA and two other continental confederations, CONCACAF in North America and the Asian Football Confederation, rejected the plan outright, with European football's governing body threatening to have its 55 member nations boycott FIFA competitions until the proposal was withdrawn.
Pressure intensified on Friday when The Daily Telegraph reported questions about a departure payment made by UEFA to a female staff member who worked with Infantino during his 16-year tenure as the European body's general secretary. Infantino has categorically denied any wrongdoing. UEFA confirmed a payment was made and said it complied with regulations in force at the time, adding that its rules have been tightened since 2016.
"It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,"
FIFA said in its statement, which was also posted on X. "Those who do not have the support of FIFA's member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes."
Confederations hold firm
Despite the public backing of FIFA's management board after a meeting in Morocco last Wednesday, where Infantino apologised for the process around the investment plan, UEFA said on Thursday that the announcement "changes nothing". The European body's threat of a competition boycott remains active, a move that would paralyse the international calendar.
Infantino's allies argue the private equity plan would have secured long-term financial stability for the global game, particularly for smaller member associations. Critics counter that it would have mortgaged the sport's crown jewels to outside investors with no accountability to football's stakeholders.
What happens next
The standoff now moves into a test of institutional endurance. FIFA's statutes provide mechanisms for a presidential challenge, but none of Infantino's opponents have formally invoked them. Meanwhile, UEFA's boycott threat creates a scenario where European nations could refuse to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a nuclear option that would damage both sides.
For now, Infantino retains the support of FIFA's council and a majority of the 211 member associations. But the convergence of a failed commercial strategy, confederation rebellion and personal allegations represents the most perilous moment of his presidency.
