UEFA loses faith in Infantino after World Cup private capital plan failure

UEFA has declared a significant loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing the recent failure of his plan to sell World Cup revenues to private investors. The European football governing body stated that FIFA's current leadership has not only lost UEFA's trust but also that of numerous other members within the global football community.

Infantino's ambitious proposal involved creating a $20 billion company to manage World Cup rights with private equity partners. However, the plan faced escalating opposition, culminating in its withdrawal early Saturday. This collapse followed the resignation of Infantino's chief advisor and the Asian Football Confederation joining Europe and North America in voicing strong opposition.

In a sharp statement released after FIFA announced the plan's retraction, UEFA criticized the "secret plans" and "accelerated timelines" orchestrated by "faceless individuals" with questionable benefits for the sport. The organization stressed the need to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. UEFA also indicated its intention to collaborate with national federations and other confederations to analyze the situation and develop measures to prevent similar occurrences.

Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness, an elected member of UEFA's executive committee, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to protect the sport's integrity. She argued that the international football cooperation framework was jeopardized by the pursuit of individual interests over the sport's best interests. Klaveness acknowledged that existing checks and balances had not functioned adequately.

Similarly, the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, stated that the future of world football should be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue, and respect for established governance structures. Infantino's bold initiative unraveled after opposition from all 55 UEFA member nations.