UEFA threatens FIFA boycott over rejected investor plan as Infantino loses European support
Story Timeline
8 days · 10 summary articles
UEFA maintained its threat of a boycott of FIFA competitions on Friday, rejecting FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s defense of his abandoned plan to sell stakes in World Cup tournaments to private investors.
In a statement, UEFA said its conditions had not been met, insisting that the proposals to sell off major competitions must be permanently withdrawn and that assurances must be given that such attempts will never recur. “These conditions have not been met,” UEFA said. The English FA also withdrew its support for Infantino, citing the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal.”
FIFA acknowledged “mistakes” in handling the FFE process during a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, stating it was “not the intention” for member associations to feel excluded. However, UEFA’s position remained unchanged. “UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds,” the statement read. “Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president agree with him changes nothing.”
Support for Infantino has grown outside Europe. The football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and Argentina, along with Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football, publicly backed him on Thursday. Mexico’s federation praised Infantino’s leadership in strengthening football’s institutional structures, while Argentina’s association expressed support for his work over the past decade.
Former DFB President Reinhard Grindel told *t-online* he doubted Infantino would seek re-election in 2027, predicting a challenger would emerge. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, with candidate nominations open until November 18, 2026. Grindel criticized the internal dynamics, calling the Rabat meeting “absurd” and questioning the ethical alignment of FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, who had previously described the events as a “sad and reprehensible series” in an internal email before pledging support to Infantino.
Meanwhile, anonymous FIFA staff expressed discomfort and anger over Infantino’s refusal to resign, with one calling him “the shame of football,” according to *Le Monde* .
UEFA’s boycott threat remains active, with the Baltic Times reporting its unequivocal rejection of FIFA’s proposal . Concacaf leaders, however, are reportedly working to gather support to either remove Infantino or propose an alternative candidate, according to *Aftenposten* .
Follow us for live European news
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
2 further sources not geolocated
Articles
Argentinië en Mexico spreken steun voor FIFA-baas Infantino uit MEXICO-STAD/BUENOS AIRES (ANP/RTR) - De voetbalbonden van Argentinië en Mexico hebben hun steun voor FIFA-baas Gianni Infantino uitgesproken. De voorzitter ligt nog altijd onder vuur ondanks het intrekken van het omstreden commercialiseringsplan en de woensdag gemaakte excuses.
rtl nieuws · about 7 hours ago
Fußball: „Albern: Ex-DFB-Chef erwartet Gegenkandidat für Infantino Der einstige DFB-Präsident Reinhard Grindel kann sich nicht vorstellen, dass Gianni Infantino noch einmal als FIFA-Präsident antritt. Die Sitzung in Rabat kritisiert er scharf.
tagesspiegel · about 7 hours ago
Uefa says boycott may still go ahead as FA withdraws Infantino support Fifas backing of president Gianni Infantino at a meeting on Wednesday "changes nothing", says European governing body Uefa.
bbc sport · about 7 hours ago
„Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, dass Infantino bei der nächsten Wahl überhaupt antritt Gianni Infantino konnte intern die Reihen offenbar wieder schließen. Doch der Fifa-Präsident ist extrem angeschlagen. Ein ehemaliger Wegbegleiter rechnet nun mit der Führungsspitze des Verbandes ab.
welt.de · about 7 hours ago
UEFA rejects FIFA proposal - The Baltic Times TALLINN – UEFA issued a statement on Thursday, unequivocally rejecting FIFAs proposal that would allow private investors to own stake......
baltic times · about 7 hours ago
Les salariés de la FIFA entre malaise et colère au sujet de Gianni Infantino, après le scandale créé par son projet de société commerciale Sous couvert danonymat, plusieurs employés de linstance ne cachent pas leur profonde gêne et irritation alors que leur président refuse de démissionner, à la suite de labandon de son plan controversé douverture à des investisseurs privés.
le monde · about 7 hours ago
Jalkapallo | Uefa vaatii edelleen Infantinon sivuuttamista, uhkaa yhä boikotilla Euroopan jalkapalloliitto Uefa pitää kiinni boikottiuhkauksestaan.
helsingin sanomat · about 7 hours ago
Infantinos nådeløse maktkupp: – Kastet ut hele gjengen I 2017 gjorde Gianni Infantino et grep som tidligere fotballpresident Yngve Hallén tror det var starten på en…
aftenposten · about 8 hours ago
Får nye støtteerklæringer fra land utenfor Europa Fifa-president Gianni Infantino fortsetter å få støtteerklæringer fra medlemsland utenfor Europa.
aftenposten · about 8 hours ago
Infantino kann sich der Unterstützung eines massiven Blocks sicher sein Die Kritik an Gianni Infantino nach dem gescheiterten Investorenplan ist laut. Ein Dachverband schlägt sich aber eindeutig auf die Seite des Fifa-Präsidenten. Er stellt mehr als ein Viertel der Stimmen für eine mögliche Wiederwahl Infantinos.
welt.de · about 9 hours ago
UEFA neemt geen genoegen met excuses Infantino en behoudt boycot FIFA-competities
de morgen · about 9 hours ago
Criză la FIFA: UEFA declară că îşi menţine boicotul privind Cupele Mondiale, chiar dacă proiectul de vânzare a fost retras UEFA nu renunţă la poziţia sa. Confederaţia Europeană de Fotbal a anunţat joi că boicotul său privind competiţiile FIFA, inclusiv Cupa Mondială, rămâne în vigoare, în ciuda renunţării de către forul mondial la planul de a se deschide către investitori externi, relatează AFP.
digi24 · about 9 hours ago