The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has passed a vote of no confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino following FIFA’s decision to scrap its controversial World Cup investment plan.
FIFA recently abandoned its proposed Forward Enterprise project, which sought to sell minority stakes in FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investors. The proposal had sparked fierce opposition from UEFA, with reports indicating that several European football associations were prepared to boycott future FIFA tournaments if the plan went ahead.
Reacting to the development, UEFA said Infantino, whose third term as FIFA president ends in March 2027, has failed to deliver on the transparency and accountability he promised when he assumed office in 2016.
The European football governing body also accused the FIFA president of attempting to use FIFA’s financial resources outside the interests of football and without the knowledge or approval of member associations.
“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said in a statement.
The organisation recalled Infantino’s pledge made in 2016, when he declared, “Of course we have to be transparent,” and reminded him of his assurance that FIFA’s finances belong to its member associations and should be used solely to develop football.
According to UEFA, those commitments were never fulfilled.
“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent,” the statement added.
UEFA described the withdrawal of the investment proposal as a victory for world football but stressed that rebuilding confidence in FIFA remains an urgent task.
“This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun,” the organisation stated.
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also criticised the failed proposal, describing it as “a unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership” that reflected a broader pattern of poor decision-making.
The confederation further stated that “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative,” adding to the growing pressure on Infantino’s leadership ahead of the end of his current term.
