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UEFA Withdraws Confidence in FIFA Leadership Over Secret World Cup Investment Plan

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • UEFA has publicly withdrawn its confidence in FIFA's current leadership, citing a "shabby, back room, opaque" secret plan to allow private investment in the World Cup.
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino abandoned the controversial plan after facing significant backlash, including threats of boycotts from UEFA.
  • UEFA accused Infantino of breaking promises of transparency and mismanaging FIFA's finances, despite the organization holding over $5 billion in reserves.

UEFA has publicly declared it has lost confidence in FIFA's current leadership, including President Gianni Infantino, over a secret plan to permit private investment in the World Cup. In a strongly worded statement released Saturday, European football's governing body accused FIFA of operating in a "shabby, back room, opaque" manner.

Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the withdrawal of the private investment plan.

The withdrawal of support comes after Infantino scrapped the controversial proposal following a furious backlash since it was revealed earlier in the week. UEFA had led the opposition, threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded. While welcoming the proposal's withdrawal, UEFA stated that Infantino had lost their confidence and that of "many other members of the football family."

The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.

— UEFAUEFA issued a statement detailing its loss of confidence in FIFA's leadership.

FIFA had proposed the plan on Tuesday, suggesting it could raise up to $4.2 billion through a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The proposal included a one-off payment of $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 member associations in early 2027 and an increase in their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle. Infantino stated the proposal would not proceed, aiming "to unite and improve."

On both these promises, he has failed to deliver.

— UEFAUEFA stated that President Infantino had failed to uphold promises of transparency and proper fund usage.

UEFA criticized Infantino for breaking promises made during his 2016 election, specifically regarding transparency and the proper use of member associations' funds. The body stated that Infantino had failed to deliver on these promises, particularly with the "shabby, back room, opaque deal" he attempted to push through. UEFA also pointed out that with FIFA's reserves exceeding $5 billion, Infantino had not adequately used the associations' money for the benefit of the sport.

The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.

— UEFAUEFA criticized the manner in which the private investment plan was handled.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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