By Dorcas Francis Koji
UEFA has openly criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring that the European football governing body no longer has confidence in his leadership following a controversial proposal to open the FIFA World Cup to private investment.
The strong rebuke came after FIFA officially abandoned plans to establish a commercial subsidiary that would have allowed external investors to acquire a stake in the organisation’s flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup.
In a statement issued on Saturday, UEFA described the proposal as lacking transparency, accusing FIFA’s leadership of attempting to push through a major commercial decision without adequate consultation with key football stakeholders.
According to UEFA, the episode has damaged trust not only between the two organisations but also across the wider global football community.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” the European governing body said.
UEFA further criticised the handling of the proposal, describing it as a “shabby, back-room, opaque” process that contradicted the transparency commitments Infantino made when he first became FIFA president in 2016.
Earlier on Saturday, Infantino confirmed that FIFA had withdrawn the investment proposal following widespread opposition from continental football confederations and other stakeholders.
“Our purpose has always been and will always be to unite and improve football. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” Infantino said.
FIFA had unveiled the proposal earlier in the week, seeking approval to establish a new commercial entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The organisation said the initiative could have attracted private investment worth up to $4.2 billion, based on a projected valuation of $20 billion.
Under the proposal, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027, while annual development funding for the 2027–2030 cycle would have increased significantly.
UEFA was among several continental football bodies that opposed the initiative.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the proposal but stressed that reforms affecting global football should only be considered after transparent consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also voiced concerns over the plan, while CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body, requested further clarification on its structure, governance and long-term implications.
Although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had planned discussions with its members to review the proposal, the withdrawal has effectively ended those deliberations.
The controversy intensified after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to FIFA, resigned in protest, describing the proposal as harmful to member associations and the future of world football.
Responding to the growing criticism, Infantino said FIFA had decided to discontinue the initiative after recognising that it had become a source of division within global football.
He pledged to work towards rebuilding consensus among football stakeholders while continuing efforts to expand the sport worldwide.
“My intention is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of our shared interest in football and continue growing the game, particularly in countries that need greater support,” Infantino said.
The withdrawal marks one of the most significant challenges to Infantino’s leadership ahead of the next FIFA presidential election, where his previously expected path to another term is now facing increased scrutiny.
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