Three confederations demand independent review of FIFA governance after Infantino row
The three major continental bodies accuse Gianni Infantino of breaking trust through deception and placing himself above the collective, calling for leadership that serves rather than commands the sport.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF have 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. They called for a fully independent review of the incident and emphasised that football leadership serves the sport rather than seeking to command it.
In their correspondence, the signatories declared that football "belongs to no individual" and stressed that leadership is not a possession. The statement argued that when trust is broken through deception and an individual places themselves above the collective that entrusted them with authority, that duty has been abandoned. The three bodies urged that football's strength lies in its unity, calling for leadership that serves the game rather than seeking to command it.
The controversy centres on a previously rejected plan to sell an interest in the World Cup's commercial rights. The joint letter, signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the three confederations, targets the integrity of the game’s leadership and the governance of recent commercial initiatives. While the letter does not explicitly name Infantino, sources indicate it should be interpreted as an opportunity for him to resign with dignity.
This development follows a FIFA management board meeting in Morocco last Wednesday, where Infantino apologised over the process of the rejected commercial rights plan. The board met to back the president, but the subsequent joint statement from the confederations highlights deepening tensions regarding governance and integrity within FIFA.
FIFA has issued a statement in response to the joint letter, though the full text of the response is not provided in the source material. The incident adds to a complex backdrop for Infantino, who served at UEFA before being elected FIFA president in 2016. Historical allegations regarding his time at UEFA, including reports of a departure payment, have been categorically denied by the president, with UEFA stating such payments complied with regulations at the time.
