Three major regional football confederations have publicly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the collapse of a proposed World Cup stake sale, according to Reuters.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF issued statements accusing Infantino of a "breach of trust" and "deception" over the handling of the plan, Reuters reports. The proposal, which reportedly involved selling a stake in a future World Cup, failed to materialize, prompting the rare joint rebuke from the governing bodies of Europe, Asia, and North and Central America.
The criticism marks a significant escalation in tensions between Infantino and the regional bodies that typically align with FIFA’s leadership. The confederations did not detail the specific terms of the failed sale, but their coordinated response suggests deep dissatisfaction with how the matter was managed, according to the wire service.
UEFA published an open letter to the football family addressing the dispute, while The Athletic noted that the three confederations are maintaining pressure on Infantino to resign. Forbes also reported that the FIFA president remains under pressure after his opponents declared a breach of trust.
The public nature of the criticism is notable, as regional confederations often avoid direct confrontation with FIFA’s top executive. The failed stake sale proposal appears to have crossed a line for the three bodies, which together represent a large majority of the world’s football associations.
Observers will now watch whether other confederations join the call for accountability, and whether Infantino responds directly to the allegations of deception. The dispute could complicate FIFA’s commercial plans ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
