UEFA has formally called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down following the collapse of a controversial proposal to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. Infantino had attempted to finalize a multi-billion-pound transaction with an investment group led by Josh Kushner, an extended relative of US President Donald Trump, before backing down due to widespread outrage across the sport.
European football leaders prepare potential vote of no confidence
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, UEFA declared a complete loss of confidence in the FIFA chief, condemning the back-room nature of the proposed transaction.
“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game,” UEFA stated. “We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.”
The European governing body indicated it will work alongside its member associations and coordinate with other global confederations to ensure such proposals cannot be pursued again. With 55 member associations, UEFA holds enough weight to single-handedly trigger the 46-member threshold required to initiate a vote of no confidence against Infantino ahead of next year’s FIFA elections.
