Three confederations demand independent review of FIFA governance after Infantino row
The three governing bodies have declared that football “belongs to no individual” and called for a fully independent review of the privatisation plan, which Infantino had previously withdrawn.
A joint letter from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF has intensified pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring that football “belongs to no individual”. The correspondence, released on Monday, criticises the president’s recent proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup, which he withdrew following days of backlash.
The three confederations argued that leadership in football is not a possession and accused Infantino of breaking trust through deception. They stated that when an individual places themselves above the collective that entrusted them with authority, that duty is abandoned. The letter called for a fully independent review of the privatisation plan, specifying that FIFA must have no role in the process to determine what led to a “profound failure of judgement”.
FIFA defended its president on Saturday, accusing critics of a concerted effort to undermine the governing body. The organisation stated that challenges to Infantino’s leadership must follow democratic procedures and the body’s statutes. This response followed reports by The Daily Telegraph regarding payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino’s tenure as general secretary, allegations he has denied and which FIFA rejected as unfounded.
Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called for Infantino to step down immediately. The 56-year-old president attended the inauguration of Colombia’s new President Abelardo De La Espriella in Cali on Friday, while FIFA released a statement attacking critics after reports emerged. The governing body also apologised to its 211 federations following an emergency meeting in Morocco, which the joint letter criticised for having only one elected official present.
Support for Infantino remains fragmented across the global football community. Approximately 70 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have publicly pledged to vote for him, while about a dozen have withdrawn previously promised support. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) backed Infantino on behalf of its 54 members, alongside Mexico from CONCACAF and several South American nations including Argentina and Paraguay. However, several Asian nations also backed the president, indicating that the confederations losing confidence in him are not completely united.
