3 weeks ago
Infantino faces mounting pressure as UEFA maintains boycott threat
There is a big group that runs soccer all over the world, called FIFA, and its boss is Gianni Infantino.
He had a plan to let private companies give lots of money for the World Cup, which he thought could raise about $4.2 billion.
The people who run soccer in Europe, called UEFA, got very angry and said they might stop taking part in FIFA games.
Because of that, Infantino gave up the plan, and FIFA said sorry for the mistakes it made.
But UEFA said they still do not trust him and want him to promise he will never try to sell off the big competitions again.
Some other groups, like the one from South America and the players' union, also said what he did was not fair.
The groups that run soccer in Africa said they still support Infantino, and even Amnesty International said FIFA needs to change the way it works.
FIFA's top staff met in Morocco and said they support him, but UEFA said those people's jobs depend on him, so that changes nothing.
People are now arguing about whether Infantino should keep his job as FIFA's president, and a big meeting to choose the president will happen next March in Rabat.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan to bring private finance into the World Cup after UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions.
UEFA maintained its boycott threat, saying not all its conditions have been met, including assurances that the sale of major competitions will never be proposed again.
UEFA said it has 'lost confidence' in Gianni Infantino's presidency, and several member associations, including England's Football Association, have withdrawn support for his re-election to a fourth term in Rabat next March.
CONMEBOL unanimously expressed concern over Infantino's 'repeated unilateral actions,' while players' union FIFPRO called the plan 'a profound abuse of presidential power.'
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) 'unanimously reconfirmed its support' for Infantino, while CONCACAF and the AFC, both critical of him, had not yet reacted to the latest developments.
- Who
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with UEFA, CONMEBOL, CAF, CONCACAF, AFC, FIFPRO, England's Football Association and Amnesty International reacting to his actions.
- What
- Continued pressure and criticism over the cancelled FIFA Forward Enterprise plan to bring private investment into the World Cup, with UEFA maintaining a threat to boycott FIFA competitions.
- Where
- An emergency FIFA meeting in Morocco, with the re-election congress scheduled for Rabat next March.
- When
- The plan was abandoned last Saturday; an emergency FIFA directors' meeting took place on Wednesday in Morocco; new statements were released Thursday, and a press conference by Lise Klaveness is due Friday.
- Why
- UEFA and others objected to selling off major competitions and criticized the deal as opaque and taken without dialogue, saying confidence in Infantino's presidency is lost.
Infantino's critics
Infantino's backers
Private investment plan (FIFA Forward Enterprise)
Infantino's critics
UEFA said conditions for withdrawing its boycott — withdrawal of the plan and assurances it is never revived — have not been met, calling the deal 'shabby, backroom, opaque'; FIFPRO called it 'a profound abuse of presidential power.'
Infantino's backers
The plan has already been withdrawn and FIFA apologized for the errors made; senior FIFA directors gave Infantino their 'full support' at an emergency meeting in Morocco, and CAF 'unanimously reconfirmed its support.'
Confidence in Infantino's leadership
Infantino's critics
UEFA said it has lost confidence in Infantino's presidency and several UEFA member associations, including England's Football Association, have withdrawn support for his re-election bid; CONCACAF called for 'a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency.'
Infantino's backers
CAF unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino, and South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie urged African football to resist what he called the 'public lynching' of Infantino.
Key facts
- FIFA president
- Gianni Infantino (Swiss, in power for 10 years)
- Cancelled proposal
- FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment plan
- Proposed valuation
- $20 billion
- Potential funding
- Up to $4.2 billion
- UEFA position
- Maintains boycott threat; has 'lost confidence' in Infantino
- CONMEBOL position
- Concern over 'repeated unilateral actions'
- CAF position
- Unanimous reconfirmation of support for Infantino
- Next FIFA election
- Rabat, next March; nominations close November 18
Quotes
UEFA Representative
Official of UEFA
“The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature.”
wionews.com
“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.”
wionews.com
Sources
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