A Crisis at the Heart of FIFA
FIFA president Gianni Infantino convened an emergency session in Morocco as the football world reeled from the collapse of his ambitious plan to sell a 20 % stake in the organization to private investors for $4.2 billion.
The proposal, which promised a financial windfall but was condemned as selling the soul of the sport, drew fire from UEFA and a coalition of European federations that accused Infantino of unilateral decision‑making.
In a further blow, Infantino removed his senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and saw several European bodies withdraw their backing, heightening speculation about his future.
Former Portugal star Luis Figo described the episode as the ‘lowest, most deceitful, and self‑interested’ episode he had witnessed in football, calling for the president’s resignation.
UEFA vice‑president Laura McAllister echoed the sentiment, saying the leadership vacuum had reached a crisis point because of the ‘unilateral nature’ of recent moves.
Infantino’s survival now hinges on securing the vote of African confederations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Indonesia and the Philippines, even as those nations have expressed mixed reactions to the overtures.
European Leagues have demanded a comprehensive reform of FIFA’s governance, insisting that future decisions must involve all stakeholders and criticizing the short‑term assessment that preceded the expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams.
The Philippine Football Federation has voiced support for the original financial assistance component of the plan, though FIFA has since withdrawn the associated FFE initiative.
With no clear challenger emerging for the March FIFA Congress election, Infantino remains the sole candidate for a fourth term, a situation that has prompted Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Hussein to accuse the federation of blackmail in exchange for support.