Three confederations demand independent review after Infantino faces joint condemnation
The joint statement, issued on Monday, asserts that football leadership is not a possession and calls for unity after Infantino’s conduct regarding commercial rights was described as a fundamental breach of trust.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF issued a joint statement on Monday condemning FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the abandoned proposal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The confederations accused Infantino of breaking trust through deception and placing himself above the collective, calling for an independent review and asserting that football leadership is not a possession.
Issued at 10:46 on 10 August 2026, the statement attacked Infantino’s conduct during the proposed sale of a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup. The three confederations stated that Infantino had broken trust "through deception" with the now abandoned proposal, had "placed himself above the collective" and called for a fully independent review of what had happened.
"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held," the statement read. "When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned," the confederations added.
The correspondence, signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the three confederations, centres on the integrity of the game’s leadership and the governance of recent commercial initiatives. The letter identifies the aborted FIFA Forward plan as a key point of contention, with signatories arguing that the president’s actions undermined the collective authority entrusted to him.
In response to the allegations, FIFA issued a statement defending Infantino, though the full text was truncated in initial reports. Infantino had previously apologised over the process of the rejected commercial rights plan during a FIFA management board meeting in Morocco on the Wednesday prior to the statement.
Sources indicated to BBC Sport that the letter should be interpreted as an opportunity for Infantino to resign with dignity, although the letter does not explicitly name him in all versions of the report. The statement concluded with a call for unity and leadership that "serves football, not seeks to command it."
Historical context surrounding Infantino’s tenure includes allegations regarding his time at UEFA, including reports that he paid off a former lover, which he has categorically denied. UEFA confirmed a departure payment was made to a female staffer, stating it complied with regulations at the time. In 2016, UEFA tightened rules for departing staff to reflect modern organisational standards.
The joint letter was signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the three confederations. The event has reignited debates over governance within global football, with the confederations asserting that "football belongs to no individual" and emphasising the need for institutional accountability over individual authority.
FIFA’s management board met in Morocco last Wednesday to back Infantino, following which he apologised for the process surrounding the rejected commercial plan. UEFA stated on Thursday that the announcement of the departure payment complied with regulations at the time, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of Infantino’s administrative history.
The current crisis marks a significant challenge to Infantino’s presidency, with the three major confederations aligning against the FIFA president in a rare display of unified dissent. The call for an independent review suggests that the confederations are seeking a formal mechanism to address the perceived breaches of trust and governance failures.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on whether the proposed independent review will be established and what findings it may yield regarding the commercial rights proposal and Infantino’s conduct. The joint statement serves as a clear signal that the confederations are prepared to challenge FIFA’s leadership structure if their demands for transparency and accountability are not met.
