3 weeks ago
Infantino's allies rally as Norway demands his resignation
FIFA is the group that runs soccer all over the world.
Its leader, Gianni Infantino, had a big idea to sell part of the World Cup's future money to raise about $4.2 billion.
Many soccer officials were not happy with this idea, and he later gave it up.
The head of soccer in Norway said Infantino should quit because people no longer trust him.
Europe's soccer group, UEFA, says it will not take part in FIFA events unless things change.
But other countries, like Mexico and Argentina, say they still support Infantino.
FIFA says it did not break any rules and that the problems were about how things were explained.
In March, there will be a big meeting in Morocco where Infantino wants to be chosen again as president.
No one else has stepped up to run against him yet.
Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, saying he no longer has the institutional trust required to govern.
The crisis stems from Infantino's abandoned proposal to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments.
UEFA stood firm in its threat to boycott FIFA events, while CONCACAF and the AFC sided with critics and CONMEBOL voiced concerns over repeated unilateral actions.
Mexico's and Argentina's football federations backed Infantino, joining CAF's unanimous support, while Croatia, England and Albania withdrew their support.
The fallout has cast a shadow over Infantino's bid for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March, with no clear challenger yet emerging.
- Who
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness, and football bodies including UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF and FIFPRO, plus national associations such as Mexico's FMF and Argentina's AFA.
- What
- A deepening leadership crisis over Infantino's abandoned $4.2 billion commercial rights plan, with Norway and several European associations demanding his resignation while Mexico, Argentina and CAF rally behind him.
- Where
- Global, with FIFA apologising after a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, and the next FIFA Congress also set to be held in Morocco.
- When
- About a week after Infantino abandoned the commercial rights proposal; the FIFA Congress election is scheduled for March.
- Why
- Critics argue the proposal and its handling eroded institutional trust and amounted to a governance failure and an abuse of presidential power; supporters say mistakes were ones of process and communication rather than breaches of governance rules.
Backing Infantino
Demanding his exit
Should Infantino resign?
Backing Infantino
Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay and CAF support his leadership and say football should develop through institutional strengthening within the 211-member framework.
Demanding his exit
Norway's Lise Klaveness says Infantino no longer has the institutional trust required to govern FIFA and called on him to resign now.
Nature of the $4.2 billion commercial rights proposal
Backing Infantino
FIFA says all actions complied with its regulations and that mistakes were ones of process and communication, not breaches of governance rules.
Demanding his exit
Players' union FIFPRO called the proposal a governance failure and a 'profound abuse of presidential power', and critics said members were blindsided.
Boycotting FIFA events
Backing Infantino
Supporters reject processes convened outside the institutional framework and prefer continuing to work under FIFA's leadership.
Demanding his exit
UEFA stands firm in its threat to boycott the World Cup until it receives assurances that such attempts will never be made again.
Key facts
- Contested proposal
- Sale of a stake in World Cup and other tournament commercial rights, worth about $4.2 billion
- FIFA membership
- 211 member associations
- Key critics
- Norway, UEFA (55 members), CONCACAF, AFC, Croatia, England and Albania
- Key supporters
- CAF (unanimous), Mexico (FMF), Argentina (AFA), Paraguay (APF), Indonesia, Philippines and Qatar
- FIFA response
- Apologised for mistakes at a Rabat meeting and pledged to review the processes behind the proposal
- Next FIFA event
- Women's under-20 World Cup in Poland next month
- Election
- Infantino seeks a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March
Quotes
Mexican Football Federation (FMF)
Official statement from the Mexican Football Federation
“The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made ... by President Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations.”
firstpost.com
“He does not have the institutional trust required to govern FIFA stably in the times we are in. There is no going back for Gianni Infantino.”
firstpost.com
Sources
Related news
Mexico, Argentina Back Infantino as UEFA Maintains Hardline Stance
Norwegian FA Demands FIFA President Infantino's Resignation, Citing Lost Trust
Infantino faces mounting pressure as UEFA maintains boycott threat
FIFA apologises, backs Infantino after failed World Cup stake plan
Italy Withdraws Support for Infantino Amid FIFA Re-election Backlash
Neymar Tells Negative Santos Fans to 'Stay Home' After Comeback Win
CONMEBOL Postpones Club Matches After Deadly Colombia Earthquake
