The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the world football governing body’s proposal to raise more than $3.6 billion by selling a 20% stake in a new company that would manage FIFA’s commercial activities.
The announcement came after FIFA confirmed that its plan to transfer part of the ownership of its major competitions to private investors had been suspended.
UEFA Raises Concerns Over FIFA Governance
UEFA said the proposal raised serious concerns about FIFA’s governance and the way decisions are made regarding the world’s biggest football competitions.
FIFA’s plan to attract investors by selling shares in the commercial rights associated with its tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, generated widespread debate across the global football community.
European Football Opposes Commercialization of the World Cup
European football leaders strongly opposed the idea of treating the FIFA World Cup as a commercial asset that could be partially sold to private investors.
According to UEFA, the FIFA World Cup is a global legacy created by players, national teams, and supporters from every continent, and therefore should not be treated as an investment product.
Pressure from Member Associations Forces Suspension
Following growing pressure from member associations and concerns expressed by football officials, FIFA decided to suspend the proposed investment plan.
The decision marked a significant reversal after widespread criticism from stakeholders across the sport.
UEFA Declares Loss of Confidence in FIFA Leadership
In its statement, UEFA said: “The current FIFA leadership has lost the confidence of UEFA and other members of the football community.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the controversial proposal to sell shares in the commercial activities of FIFA’s major competitions had been suspended after facing strong opposition from several member associations.
