Gianni Infantino’s critics are joining forces to develop a new model for governing global football, aiming to replace what they see as a patronage-based structure introduced after he succeeded Sepp Blatter as president a decade ago.
Infantino has not responded to repeated demands from Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation for an independent examination of Fifa’s governance following the disclosure two weeks ago of plans to sell a 21% stake in the World Cup. The opposing groups are now believed to be pursuing their own course of action.
A person familiar with the talks said the three confederations are preparing a fresh policy paper outlining how the international governing organisation could be reformed in the years ahead.
Participants have been authorised to consider fundamental issues, including Fifa’s exact purpose, its organisational structure and the most suitable system of oversight. Another major topic is how money should be allocated to member associations, especially the effective use of Fifa’s estimated $5bn (£3.7bn) in reserves.
Should Infantino decline to take part in the discussions, the proposed model may become the platform of a rival candidate in next year’s presidential contest or potentially form the basis of a separate governing organisation.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, Uefa, Concacaf and the AFC called for “leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it”. The organisations also indicated that initial talks about creating alternative competitions are already under way in case the dispute with Fifa’s leadership continues.
Next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup may proceed without European sides. Uefa says its members will stay away unless Fifa promptly establishes an independent investigation into the failed World Cup stake proposal and provides legally enforceable guarantees that a similar plan will not be attempted again.
Concacaf president Victor Montagliani currently appears to be the leading potential opponent to Infantino, although he said in June that his immediate priority is securing another term as head of the North and Central American confederation next year.
The wording of Monday’s joint declaration appeared notable because it closely reflected remarks Montagliani made at Fifa’s congress in Vancouver earlier this year, when he stated: “Let me be frank, leadership is not about power.”
Leading representatives of European football are assembling in person for the first time since the Fifa Forward Enterprise controversy emerged. Several discussions are expected in Salzburg over the next two days, alongside Wednesday’s Uefa Super Cup final.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is due to meet Nasser al-Khelaifi, chair of European Football Clubs (EFC), in an effort to strengthen European unity behind demands for new leadership at Fifa. Uefa is maintaining its commitment to avoid Fifa tournaments because it has yet to receive the guarantees it requested that the problems behind the present crisis will not happen again.
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