UEFA has signaled that it may pursue legal avenues, arbitration, or formal regulatory complaints against FIFA in response to Gianni Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. In a letter dated Friday, July 31, addressed directly to Infantino, the European governing body warned that it is "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" concerning the failed initiative. The correspondence also cautioned senior FIFA officials not to destroy any documents or evidence that could be required in potential litigation.
The warning follows a growing erosion of confidence in Infantino’s leadership after the botched attempt to commercialise World Cup assets. The English Football Association (FA) has now moved to rescind its earlier endorsement of Infantino’s re‑election bid, signalling a coordinated European effort to remove him from office as swiftly as possible. The FA intends to send a formal letter withdrawing its prior support, joining a wave of similar actions from other national associations. The Welsh FA was the first association to publicly withdraw its backing for Infantino’s candidacy, and the Swedish FA followed suit on Monday.
Both statements are part of a broader strategy to apply maximum pressure on the FIFA president. Over the coming days, additional letters and public announcements are expected, each designed to isolate Infantino and amplify calls for his resignation. Despite the mounting opposition, Infantino has shown no indication that he will step down voluntarily. He has been attempting to shore up his position by courting the federations that remain loyal, primarily those in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Even if he manages to survive the immediate crisis, it is highly likely that he will face at least one serious challenger at the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March in Morocco. A U.S.
government spokesperson has dismissed a New York Post report claiming that Infantino was set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in an effort to preserve his job. Rubio did attend the opening match of the World Cup in Los Angeles alongside Infantino in June, but there is no evidence of a subsequent high‑level diplomatic intervention.
The Post also alleged that Infantino had been trying, without success, to contact former President Donald Trump by phone since Friday – a claim that remains unverified. Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris offered analysis, describing the recent UEFA statements as part of a broader campaign to build momentum and force Infantino out of office. He noted that earlier attempts, such as a Thursday declaration of a European boycott of the World Cup, failed to produce the desired effect. Harris reflected on his personal experience attending an IFAB meeting in Wales in February, where Infantino was hosted by the Football Association of Wales.
He emphasized the significance of the FA and the FAW, which together control two of the eight IFAB votes, in influencing the governance of the sport. According to Harris, Infantino has not offered the kind of contrition or concrete commitments that UEFA expects.
He has not pledged to reform the opaque decision‑making processes that allowed the sell‑off plan to be developed in secrecy and then imposed on football associations worldwide. Nevertheless, Infantino continues to enjoy backing from several regions, notably Africa, the Middle East, Qatar, and Morocco.
He appears to be rallying political support and seeking endorsements that portray him as responsive to global football interests, despite the controversy surrounding his recent proposals. The withdrawal of support by the FA and the Welsh FA represents a turning point. While the FA had previously expressed confidence in Infantino’s re‑election, the latest letter marks a decisive break.
Observers now wonder whether a vote of no confidence will be triggered before the March election in Morocco, or whether Infantino will ultimately succumb to the mounting pressure. The last comparable situation occurred in 2015, when Sepp Blatter resigned amid scandal after more than a decade in office.
The original proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion) from external investors by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes in the new commercial vehicle. FIFA valued the enterprise at roughly $20 billion (£15 billion) and claimed that, with member‑association approval, the deal could generate more than $10 billion in football‑development funding over four years. The plan was marketed as a way to inject fresh capital into the sport, but critics argued that it threatened the integrity of football’s governance by introducing private profit motives into the heart of the game.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol noted that while influential figures such as Paris Saint‑Germain president Nasser Al‑Khelaifi sit on the UEFA executive committee, there is no indication that they intend to replace Infantino. Other potential challengers have been mentioned, including Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the former runner‑up in the 2015 FIFA presidential election and current AFC president, who has publicly opposed the sell‑off scheme. Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president, also rejected the proposal, despite CONCACAF’s recent close ties with Infantino following the World Cup hosted across three North‑American nations. Aleksander Čeferin, the UEFA president, is frequently cited as a possible alternative.
Čeferin advocates a markedly different vision for football administration, one that would eliminate practices such as mandatory hydration breaks, the FIFA Peace Prize, and the use of private jets for the president, as well as the controversial $1 million (£742,000) World Cup ticket allocations. 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, national federations, media commentators, and political actors.
While he continues to seek support from regions that have historically aligned with his agenda, the coordinated withdrawal of backing by key European bodies signals a serious challenge to his tenure. The upcoming FIFA presidential election in Morocco will likely serve as the decisive arena where Infantino’s fate is ultimately decided, whether through a contested vote, a forced resignation, or a negotiated transition of power.