FIFA chief Infantino faces major revolt over commercial rights plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure after key football confederations voiced strong opposition to his controversial plan to sell commercial rights through a newly proposed subsidiary. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), along with the confederations of North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) and Asia (AFC), have all declared their dissent, challenging Infantino's approach.

UEFA's countermove, which reportedly includes the threat of a World Cup boycott, directly questions Infantino's dealings with "Thrive Capital," an investment firm reportedly linked to Donald Trump. FIFA members were given until September 19 to decide on the proposal. The opposition from UEFA (55 votes), CONCACAF (35 votes), and Asia (46 votes) collectively represents 136 votes, a clear majority, putting Infantino in a precarious position.

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Concerns regarding the lack of a proper decision-making process.

CONCACAF officials cited "concerns regarding the lack of a proper decision-making process," while the AFC, led by Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, stated they had not been consulted. The AFC also expressed deep concern that unilateral actions could undermine the fundamental principles of football, which are based on "solidarity, cooperation, and transparency."

Despite the backlash, Infantino vehemently defended the plan for "Fifa Forward Enterprise" (FFE), which aims to generate over $4 billion from external investors. An email sent from FIFA on Friday morning, even amidst the controversy, reiterated the organization's commitment to "open and democratic consultation" while also dismissing much of the media coverage as "fake news." The proposal is seen by some as a potential pathway for Infantino to secure a lucrative executive role after his FIFA presidency, should he secure re-election in 2027.

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We respect the public feedback and concerns. And we reaffirm our commitment to open and democratic consultation.