FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces escalating opposition from multiple stakeholders after his failed attempt to sell stakes in World Cup operations to private investors. Despite receiving backing from FIFA’s management board on Wednesday, the decision has not quelled mounting criticism across the football world.
FIFPRO, the global players’ union representing more than 70,000 professional footballers across 70 national associations, released a statement characterizing the episode as an “abuse of presidential power” and calling for structural reforms at FIFA. The union expressed deep concern about FIFA’s handling of the situation, describing the response as a “cover-up” rather than genuine accountability. FIFPRO emphasized that legitimate scrutiny of governance should not be portrayed as disloyalty and warned that FIFA’s threats regarding “attacks on its integrity” would only deepen concerns.
UEFA maintained its hardline stance despite Infantino’s apology for “mistakes” in the proposal process. The continental confederation stated that insufficient change had occurred to reverse its position, as Infantino remained in office and the conditions it outlined—withdrawal of the sale proposals and assurances against future similar attempts—had not been fully satisfied. UEFA indicated it would proceed with planned boycotts of FIFA competitions, with upcoming tests including the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup next month and Women’s World Cup qualification play-offs scheduled for October.
Multiple football associations have withdrawn support for Infantino’s anticipated re-election vote, currently scheduled for March 2027. The English Football Association formally announced its intention to withdraw backing, following Wales becoming the first federation to do so. Additional pressure came from prominent figures including former player Luis Figo, who called for Infantino’s resignation, and various league officials who questioned his fitness for the role.
FIFPRO outlined specific demands for reform, including enhanced governance structures and safeguards to prevent unilateral exercises of presidential power. The union emphasized that confidence in leadership cannot be restored through statements or internal reviews alone, but requires substantive institutional changes and demonstrated accountability for the governance failures that enabled the proposal to advance without broader consultation.
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