UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA’s Infantino after failed plan to privatize World Cup

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced Saturday that it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing a "secret scheme" to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. UEFA stated that "no option should be off the table" as it seeks a full review of the now-abandoned plan.

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We must identify those responsible and hold them to account. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.

Infantino was forced to scrap the $20 billion proposal after facing widespread backlash. The plan, which included investment from Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and son-in-law of then-US President Donald Trump, drew opposition from soccer bodies across Europe, Asia, and North America. FIFA's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest, stating, "I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup."

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We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game.

UEFA issued a "blistering statement" hours after FIFA announced the withdrawal of the plan. The governing body of European soccer, led by Aleksander Čeferin, criticized the "secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game." UEFA's 55 member nations had previously agreed to boycott FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded. The Asian Football Confederation and North America's CONCACAF also voiced their opposition.

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I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.