The Football Association of Wales has ended its backing for Gianni Infantino’s campaign to remain Fifa president after his mishandled attempt to sell private investors shares in the World Cup. Infantino confirmed last week that he had abandoned the heavily criticised proposal, which three confederations opposed. However, his decade in charge of Fifa continues to […]
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European football associations are preparing to increase pressure on Gianni Infantino by collectively withdrawing the letters that endorsed his campaign for another term as Fifa president. Infantino’s leadership is facing a serious threat following the failure of his privately funded proposal to sell parts of the World Cup. The plan was largely derailed after Uefa […]
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Gianni Infantino is confronting opposition from members of the Fifa Council who are seeking to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), a move that could escalate into a direct challenge to his leadership. Efforts to secure an EGM had reportedly begun before details emerged of Infantino’s abandoned proposal to sell shares in the World Cup. […]
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The fastest way for Infantino to leave office would be to step down voluntarily, as his predecessor Sepp Blatter did in 2015. However, Infantino continues to have support and may attempt to remain in charge until March, when he is expected to seek re-election for a fourth and final presidential term. What other options are […]
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Infantino gained greater public prominence and faced renewed scrutiny during the summer World Cup hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Controversy surrounded the competition before it began, as some supporters, coaches and officials experienced delays or refusals when applying for US visas. In May, Iran’s tournament base was relocated to Mexico after the […]
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Infantino was elected Fifa president in 2016, defeating AFC president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa by 115 votes to 88. The next Fifa president is due to be confirmed at the organisation’s 77th Congress in Morocco next March. Anyone wishing to stand must submit their candidacy by 18 November. Before this week’s developments, Infantino had been expected […]
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What has taken place? Football has endured a turbulent week after unexpected reports emerged on Tuesday afternoon. The sport’s global governing body was said to be preparing a company that would manage the World Cup’s commercial rights, with part of the business offered to outside investors. Even members of the organization’s main decision-making council reportedly […]
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Yet Caf’s strong relationship with Fifa has also created difficulties, as Motsepe has seemed reluctant to publicly question Infantino or decisions made by his organisation. Fifa faced widespread criticism after US officials denied Somali referee Omar Artan entry to the country before the World Cup. It received further condemnation for suspending the one-game punishment imposed […]
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Nobody can say with confidence what will happen next, and Infantino’s long-term position remains unclear. Fifa has not yet replied to Uefa’s declaration. Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the host confederation of this year’s World Cup, later issued its own statement saying all 41 members opposed the proposals. […]
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Following Thursday’s virtual meeting, chaired by president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa issued a statement saying that the organisation and all 55 of its member associations were united in their position. The statement said they firmly and unanimously opposed Fifa’s plan to hand ownership stakes in the World Cup and its other tournaments to private investors. A […]
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