FIFA has accused European football's governing body UEFA of launching a misinformation campaign in its bid to access documents related to Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off parts of the World Cup. In a court filing in Florida, FIFA said UEFA's attempt to force the world body to hand over the documents is also an attempt to influence next year's FIFA presidential election. This development is the latest in a series of events that have seen Infantino come under increasing pressure to step down as FIFA president.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Infantino, who has come under fire over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments. Ceferin is one of the leading figures in the challenge to Infantino, who caused uproar in July with proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved. However, FIFA says in its court filing that UEFA makes numerous false or misleading statements about Infantino and the world governing body, including that Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal. AFP has contacted UEFA for its response, but none has been given yet. UEFA, home to World Cup holders Spain and football powerhouses such as France, England and Germany, is leading the opposition to Infantino, calling openly for his removal.
Despite the backlash, FIFA confirmed this month that Infantino will stand again for president in the election next March. In a letter to FIFA's 211 members, Infantino indicated that a greater amount of money could be distributed to FIFA members from its cash reserves. He said he would support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered. This move is seen as an attempt to garner support from FIFA members ahead of the presidential election.
Infantino insisted in the letter that the abandoned proposal to sell off World Cup commercial rights had been intended to generate additional money for football. He wrote that the recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable FIFA to invest more in football. However, the proposal was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing Infantino of trying to privatize the World Cup.
Infantino is not without friends, though. 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia came out in support last month, with African football's governing body CAF and South America's CONMEBOL also supportive. This development is likely to boost Infantino's chances of retaining his position as FIFA president. The support from various football governing bodies is a significant show of solidarity for Infantino.
The FIFA presidential election is set to take place next March, and it remains to be seen whether Infantino will be able to retain his position. With UEFA leading the opposition to him, Infantino will face a tough challenge in the coming months. Key to his campaign will be his ability to convince FIFA members that he is the right person to lead the organization forward.
Key points
- FIFA accuses UEFA of a misinformation campaign in its bid to access documents related to Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off parts of the World Cup.
- Infantino will stand again for president in the election next March despite the backlash over his now-abandoned private investment plan.
- UEFA is leading the opposition to Infantino, calling openly for his removal.
