FIFA warns against effort to undermine Infantino, saying there is a concerted and ongoing campaign targeting the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino.
The late-Saturday statement follows intensifying controversy over a shelved plan to spin off a subsidiary to run the men’s World Cup and other events, with up to a 20% stake to be sold to external investors. The proposal drew heavy pushback from UEFA, which warned it could boycott future World Cups, along with criticism from several national associations and senior FIFA officials. Calls for Infantino to step down have mounted.
As criticism grew, Infantino secured a show of support from FIFA’s Board of Management at an emergency meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday.
Report raises new questions over Infantino
Pressure increased on Friday after the Daily Telegraph reported that a six-figure sum was paid to a female employee alleged to have been in a relationship with Infantino during his time as UEFA general secretary. UEFA confirmed a departure payment and said it also financed her MBA studies, stating both were compliant with regulations at the time.
A FIFA spokesperson told the newspaper that Infantino “strongly denies these allegations” and said they were categorically untrue. In its Saturday statement, without directly referencing the report, FIFA said recent coverage included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims about the organization and its president.
Investment plan dispute deepens leadership crisis for FIFA
The backlash over the aborted private investment proposal has overshadowed Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. Following this week’s crisis meeting, UEFA said it no longer has confidence in him, and Norwegian FA President Lise Klaveness called for his resignation.
Despite the rift, Infantino retains considerable support across FIFA’s membership. The Confederation of African Football stated it unanimously backs his leadership, and South American governing body CONMEBOL said it opposes any move to remove him without a vote of all member associations.
FIFA added that those lacking backing from its member associations should not try to achieve through allegation, insinuation, or misinformation what they cannot secure through the organization’s established democratic processes. Similar tensions over leadership and institutional process have been seen in other countries, including during recent student protest fallout in India.