FIFA denounces ‘concerted effort’ to oust Infantino

FIFA on Saturday issued a forceful statement condemning what it described as "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the organization and its president Gianni Infantino, as a leadership crisis that began with a failed privatization scheme continues to escalate.dw+2

The statement came hours after Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that UEFA had made a six-figure severance payment to an employee alleged to have been in an intimate relationship with Infantino during his tenure as UEFA's general secretary between 2009 and 2016. UEFA confirmed the payment was made "in line" with regulations at the time, while FIFA said Infantino "strongly denies these allegations."espn+1

A Crisis Sparked by Private Investment

Infantino's troubles began in late July when The Times of London revealed his plan to create a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprises, offering up to 21 percent of commercial rights to future World Cups to private investors, with JPMorgan Chase & Co. ↗ 0.34% JP Morgan valuing the package at $20 billion. The lead investor was to be Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.nymag

The proposal was met with near-universal opposition. UEFA's 55 member nations voted to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded, and confederations representing North America, Asia, and Europe condemned the scheme. FIFA withdrew the proposal but the backlash has not subsided.espn+1

Boycott Threats Remain

On Thursday, UEFA reiterated that its boycott threat stands and that it has lost confidence in Infantino's presidency, calling his apology letter insufficient. Concacaf accused him of "a unilateral and egregious act of poor governance."nytimes+2

Yet Infantino retains support from parts of the football world. The Confederation of African Football expressed "unanimous support," while CONMEBOL said it would not back efforts to oust him on an accelerated timeline. Argentina and Mexico have also publicly backed the FIFA president.espn+1

The Path Ahead

FIFA's Saturday statement insisted it would "not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA's Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework." Infantino is due to stand for re-election in March 2027.sports.yahoo+1

The statement concluded: "Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA's President or the institution he was elected to lead."espn