UEFA has called for the resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the collapse of a controversial plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
Infantino had sought to sell a £3.1 billion stake in the tournament to a consortium of private investors led by Josh Kushner, who is related by marriage to US President Donald Trump.
However, the proposal was abandoned on Friday following widespread criticism, with Infantino reportedly reversing course after the deal failed to gain support.
In a statement issued on Saturday, UEFA said it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, accusing FIFA of pursuing secretive decisions that lacked transparency and accountability.
“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account,” the statement said.
UEFA added that it would work with its member associations and other continental confederations in the coming weeks to examine how the situation unfolded and prevent a repeat.
“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.
“That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”
The development raises fresh uncertainty over Infantino’s future ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election, where he is expected to seek a fourth term.
Under FIFA rules, a vote of no confidence can be initiated if at least 46 FIFA member associations support the move. UEFA alone comprises 55 member associations, giving the confederation significant influence in any such process.
Recall that LaLiga president Javier Tebas had also called for Infantino’s resignation.
