A divided football world
European, Asian and North American football governing bodies have issued an unprecedented open letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of deception regarding a proposal to sell 20% of World Cup commercial rights.
The letter, signed by UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, calls for a fully independent review of Infantino’s conduct and urges football’s leadership to remain united, warning that any future schemes of this nature will be met with a boycott of FIFA‑sanctioned tournaments.
Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness has gone a step further, publicly urging Infantino to step down and suggesting she could serve as a replacement, adding pressure on the embattled chief.
In response, FIFA issued a statement defending Infantino, pointing to historic allegations of payments made by UEFA during his tenure as European general secretary as a justification for his continued leadership.
The political landscape within world football remains split, with nearly 70 of FIFA’s 211 member associations publicly backing Infantino, while around a dozen have either withdrawn support or abstained from voting for him.
Confederations such as CAF, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and CONMEBOL have voiced their support for Infantino, creating a stark contrast to the majority opposition expressed by UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF.
The controversy was heightened by an emergency meeting held in Morocco, where only a single elected official was present, underscoring the lack of democratic representation in the decision‑making process.
The proposed sale, which was ultimately abandoned, was projected to generate roughly $4.2 billion, a figure that has fueled the debate over the future governance and commercial strategy of the sport.