UEFA has formally warned FIFA that it is weighing a range of legal options – including lawsuits, arbitration proceedings and formal regulatory complaints – in response to Gianni Infantino’s aborted plan to sell minority stakes in the World Cup commercial vehicle. In a letter dated 31 July, addressed directly to Infantino, the European governing body made clear that it is "actively considering" these measures and has instructed key members of FIFA’s senior administration to preserve any evidence that could become relevant in future litigation. The warning follows a rapid erosion of confidence in Infantino’s leadership after the highly publicised attempt to monetise World Cup assets through the so‑called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
The proposal, which sought to raise up to $4.2 billion from external investors by offering non‑controlling shares in a newly created commercial entity valued at roughly $20 billion, was scrapped after fierce backlash from national associations and the broader football community. In the wake of the fallout, the English Football Association announced that it would retract a previous letter of support for Infantino’s re‑election as FIFA president.
The FA’s decision is being presented as part of a coordinated European effort to pressure the incumbent into stepping down before the next presidential election, scheduled to take place in Morocco in March. The Welsh FA was the first association to publicly withdraw its backing, with the Swedish federation following suit shortly thereafter. Analysts expect a wave of similar letters from other European bodies in the coming days, all aimed at amplifying the pressure on the Swiss‑based federation’s chief. Despite the mounting opposition, Infantino has so far shown no indication that he intends to resign.
Instead, he has turned to the federations that continue to support him – primarily those in Africa, Asia and South America – seeking to shore up a coalition that can sustain his tenure. Even if he manages to survive the immediate crisis, it is almost certain that he will face at least one serious challenger at the upcoming election, given the depth of discontent across the continent. A recent report in the New York Post claimed that Infantino was scheduled to speak with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an effort to secure political backing for his position.
The U.S. State Department, however, denied that any such meeting was planned.
The same story also alleged that Infantino had been attempting, without success, to reach former President Donald Trump by phone since the previous Friday. Both claims remain unverified. Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris provided an analysis of the situation, describing the recent UEFA statements as an attempt to build momentum and force Infantino out of office. Harris noted that earlier attempts – such as a European boycott of the World Cup announced on a Thursday – failed to achieve the desired impact.
He highlighted the strategic importance of the Football Association (FA) and the Football Association of Wales (FAW), which together control two of the eight votes on the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that governs the Laws of the Game. According to Harris, Infantino has offered no meaningful apology or concrete pledge to prevent a recurrence of the secretive planning that led to the sell‑off proposal.
Instead, he continues to rely on support from regions such as Africa, the Middle East and, notably, Qatar and Morocco, attempting to rally political favors and public praise for his revised plans. The broader context of the controversy stems from the original FFE proposal, which promised to generate more than $10 billion in football‑development funding over four years if approved by member associations. Critics argued that the plan would have handed significant commercial control to private investors, undermining the sport’s governance and transparency. Potential successors to Infantino have been mentioned in the media.
Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint‑Germain and a powerful figure on the UEFA executive committee, has reportedly shown no interest in taking the FIFA helm. Former AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who finished second in the 2015 FIFA presidential election, has voiced opposition to the sell‑off scheme and could emerge as a candidate. Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, also rejected the proposal, though his confederation has historically been close to Infantino. Perhaps the most intriguing name floated by commentators is Aleksander Čeferin, the current UEFA president.
Čeferin advocates a very different vision for football governance, one that would eliminate many of the controversial practices associated with Infantino’s tenure – such as hydration‑break mandates, the FIFA Peace Prize, private jets owned by the organization, and the exorbitant $1 million World Cup ticket prices. However, Čeferin has not publicly expressed any ambition to run for the FIFA presidency. In summary, Infantino finds himself under unprecedented pressure from multiple fronts: European football associations are mobilising legal and diplomatic tools, African and Asian federations are weighing their loyalties, and the media is scrutinising every move.
The next few weeks will likely determine whether he can retain his position until the March election or whether a vote of no confidence will be triggered, echoing the dramatic resignation of Sepp Blatter eleven years ago. The outcome will shape the future governance of world football and could redefine how commercial interests are balanced with the sport’s core values.