UEFA declare ‘NO CONFIDENCE’ in FIFA supremo Infantino after dodgy $20bn World Cup sell-off scheme collapses in chaos
By SCM SPORT REPORTING DESK
FOOTBALL’S governing bodies are in total meltdown after UEFA sensationally declared they have LOST CONFIDENCE in FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
In an explosive Saturday morning statement, European football’s hierarchy launched an all-out assault on the Swiss-Italian boss, despite FIFA making a frantic late-night U-turn on plans to sell off World Cup rights to private equity firms.
The 56-year-old FIFA head had been trying to push through a secret $20billion (£15.6bn) scheme to sell a 20 per cent stake in international tournaments to shadowy private investors.
Infantino even tried to sweet-talk individual football associations by dangling a eye-watering $40 million (£31m) bribe-style payout if they signed up before a September deadline.
But the shameless cash-grab backfired spectacularly.
‘SHABBY AND OPAQUE’
After UEFA threatened a total BOYCOTT of all FIFA competitions — supported by confederations across North America and Asia — Infantino was forced into a humiliating midnight surrender.
Yet UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin and his 55 member nations refuse to let the matter drop, insisting Infantino’s position is now virtually unviable.
A scathing UEFA statement read:
”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.
”The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence, but also that of many other members of the football family.”
The European body added that Infantino had “failed to deliver” on the core promises of transparency he made when elected to succeed disgraced Sepp Blatter in 2016.
PALACE REVOLT
The crisis has torn FIFA apart at the seams.
Key Infantino right-hand man Carlos Cordeiro RESIGNED in protest over the secret sell-off scheme, while FIFA COO operational staff accused Infantino of directly deceiving executives.
Inside sources say European football federations — including the English FA — are now discussing whether to trigger an Extraordinary FIFA Congress to bring forward a formal vote of no confidence to oust Infantino.
One senior European executive told The Sun: “Scrapping the plan isn’t enough. The trust is completely gone. You can’t run global football like a midnight pawn shop.”
To understand how FIFA and UEFA reached open warfare, here is a breakdown of the key flashpoints:
1. The “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) Plot
Infantino sought to establish a commercial subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise to control broadcasting, sponsorship, and ticketing for major events including the World Cup and expanded Club World Cup. By offering a 20% stake to private equity funds, FIFA hoped to raise $4.2 billion immediately.
2. The $40 Million “Ultimatum”
To bypass executive scrutiny, FIFA issued an ultimatum setting a deadline for all 211 member associations: back the project to unlock $40 million in direct funding, or stick with standard development grants worth significantly less. UEFA blasted this tactic as an unethical attempt to buy votes from smaller nations.
3. A Pattern of Fractured Trust
This is not the first high-stakes battle between Nyon (UEFA headquarters) and Zurich (FIFA):
Biennial World Cup (2021): Infantino’s previous attempt to host the Men’s World Cup every two years was defeated after heavy resistance from UEFA and CONMEBOL.
48-Team World Cup Expansion: UEFA accepted expanded tournament structures, but warned that player workload was reaching breaking point.
Disciplinary & Governance Scandals: Tensions spiked over FIFA’s fast-tracked governance overrides and unilateral decision-making without consulting European leagues and player unions.
What Happens Next?
UEFA has confirmed it is coordinating with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF to launch a fundamental review of FIFA’s governance structures.
Under FIFA statutes, just 43 member associations are needed to formally demand an Extraordinary Congress — opening the door for a historic challenge to Infantino’s reign.
