UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF Issue Joint Statement Condemning Infantino Over 'Deception'
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA and CONCACAF released a joint statement on Monday attacking FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his conduct during the now-abandoned proposal to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors for about $4.2 billion. The three confederations, which together represent football's most powerful regions, accused Infantino of breaking trust "through deception" and "placing himself above the collective."
Key Points
- UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF issued an open letter to the "football family" accusing Infantino of conduct that broke trust through deception
- The proposal involved carving off World Cup commercial rights and selling 20% to private investors to raise approximately $4.2 billion
- Sources said the three confederations view the statement as an opportunity for Infantino to resign with his dignity intact ahead of his re-election bid in March
- The confederations have threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until receiving guarantees that no similar schemes will be proposed
- They are also investigating the possibility of staging competitions among themselves to give players competition opportunities amid the FIFA crisis
- The confederations criticised a FIFA emergency meeting held in Morocco last week
Why It Matters
The joint rebellion from UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF represents the most serious challenge to Infantino's leadership since he took office in 2016, with the three largest confederations questioning whether he should continue serving. With Infantino seeking re-election in March, this coordinated pressure could fundamentally reshape the governance of world football and potentially fragment the sport's global structure.
The joint rebellion from UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF represents the most serious challenge to Infantino's leadership since he took office in 2016, with the three largest confederations questioning whether he should continue serving. With Infantino seeking re-election in March, this coordinated pressure could fundamentally reshape the governance of world football and potentially fragment the sport's global structure.