Uefa’s Continued Dissatisfaction
Uefa has stated that Fifa’s backing of its president, Gianni Infantino, changes nothing regarding its position. The European governing body had previously expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s presidency. This stance remains, even after Fifa’s management board offered its full support to Infantino following the withdrawal of a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
The English FA has formally withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election, which is scheduled for March 2027. Uefa’s conditions for reversing its position have not been met, despite the aborted plan. These conditions included the withdrawal of proposals to sell off major competitions and assurances that such attempts to “disfigure the game” would not be made again.
Concerns Over Governance and Accountability
The world players’ union, FIFPRO, has condemned what it calls an “abuse of presidential power” concerning Infantino’s abandoned plans. FIFPRO noted Fifa’s statement with “deep concern” and criticised the governing body for enabling the plans to be developed. The union demanded “legally-binding engagement” with professional football stakeholders on issues such as the international match calendar and the expansion of Fifa competitions.
FIFPRO also called for governance and structural reforms to prevent any individual from making unilateral decisions in the future. The union further stated that any attempt to portray legitimate scrutiny as disloyalty would only deepen concerns. Fifa’s internal update from its meeting in Rabat, Morocco, which reaffirmed support for the organisation’s leadership, was seen by FIFPRO as reducing a fundamental governance failure to a matter of “processes and communications” to be “improved.”
Uefa’s concerns stem from the belief that the meeting which backed Infantino was a gathering of employees whose careers depend on his favour. Questions remain regarding who was involved in the controversial plan, whether there was a competitive tender process, and if Infantino stood to benefit personally. While Fifa acknowledged “mistakes” and issued an “apology,” Uefa believes there has been no direct accountability for the controversy.
Potential Boycott and Future Challenges
Uefa has maintained the option of a boycott of Fifa tournaments. This stance will be tested with the Fifa Women’s U20s World Cup, which is set to begin in Poland on 5 September. Six European countries, including England, are scheduled to participate in this tournament.
For senior national teams, another significant test of the boycott could occur in October. During this month, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are scheduled to participate in play-offs for qualification to the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup. The possibility of a vote of no confidence against Infantino also remains on the table, which Uefa could trigger via an extraordinary congress.
However, such a motion would require a majority of Fifa’s 211 member associations, specifically 106 votes, to pass. If Uefa does not believe it can secure this number, triggering the vote would be unlikely. Another option being considered is to find a unity candidate to challenge Infantino in the presidential election next March, with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani being a potential favourite.
The president of the Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, praised Infantino’s “courage” and his decision to reverse the plan, expressing continued support. Only Jordan, among the countries that did not previously back Infantino, has publicly stated it will not vote for his re-election. Conmebol, the South American confederation, indicated it would not support any actions that disregard Fifa’s mechanisms before the presidential election.
The situation highlights a division within global football governance, with Uefa continuing to seek answers and accountability regarding the aborted proposals. Fifa’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, who strongly criticised Infantino’s plan as “the project of one person,” was reportedly not invited to the recent meeting in Rabat. Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who had previously criticised the proposals, were later pictured together at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Malawi and Zambia.
Source: bbc.com
