UEFA has announced that it is weighing a range of legal options in response to Gianni Infantino's ill-fated plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. In a formal letter dated 31 July, the European governing body warned that it is "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" should FIFA proceed with the abandoned scheme.
The correspondence also instructed senior FIFA officials not to destroy any documents or electronic records that could become evidence in any future litigation. The warning comes amid a growing loss of confidence in Infantino's leadership after the botched attempt to commercialise World Cup assets. The English Football Association, for example, is preparing to retract its earlier endorsement of Infantino's re‑election.
A new letter to the FIFA president will formally withdraw the FA's previous support, signalling a coordinated European effort to force a leadership change as swiftly as possible. The Welsh FA was the first association to publicly withdraw its backing, and the Swedish FA followed suit on the following Monday. Analysts expect a cascade of similar statements from other national federations in the coming days, all designed to increase pressure on Infantino and demonstrate a united front against his proposals.
Despite the mounting criticism, Infantino has shown no indication that he intends to step down. Instead, he has been seeking to shore up his position by courting the federations that remain loyal, particularly those in Africa, Asia and South America.
Even if he manages to survive the immediate crisis, he will almost certainly face at least one challenger when the FIFA presidential election is held in Morocco in March. A U.S. government spokesperson has dismissed a New York Post report claiming that Infantino was scheduled to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in an effort to preserve his job.
The same article also alleged that Infantino had been trying, without success, to reach former President Donald Trump by phone since the previous Friday. Both claims were denied by official sources. Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris offered his analysis, describing the series of statements from UEFA and other bodies as an attempt to build momentum and force Infantino out of office.
"The Thursday declaration of a European boycott of the World Cup failed to produce the desired outcome, and the Saturday UEFA statement likewise did not compel Infantino to act," Harris wrote. He noted that the situation represents a dramatic fall from grace for Infantino, especially given that just two weeks earlier the World Cup final had been celebrated worldwide. Harris highlighted the strategic importance of the Football Association (FA) and the Football Association of Wales (FAW) because they control two of the eight votes on the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Their withdrawal of support therefore carries significant weight in the broader governance of the sport. Critics argue that Infantino has offered no genuine contrition or concrete promises to prevent a repeat of the secretive sell‑off plan. They contend that he has failed to assure the football community that future initiatives will be transparent and subject to proper oversight.
Nevertheless, Infantino continues to enjoy backing from several regions, including African nations, the Middle East, Qatar and Morocco. He appears to be leveraging political goodwill from these allies, portraying himself as a leader who has listened to global concerns and adjusted the proposal accordingly. The withdrawal of support from the FA marks a turning point.
Until now, the FA had publicly backed Infantino's re‑election, but the latest letter indicates that patience has run out. Observers wonder whether the mounting pressure will lead to a vote of no confidence before the March election, or whether Infantino will resign voluntarily. The last comparable scenario occurred in 2015 when Sepp Blatter was forced out amid scandal. The original plan, 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 claimed the entity would be valued at roughly $20 billion (£15 billion) and that the proceeds could fund more than $10 billion in football development projects over four years, pending approval from member associations. Some commentators have speculated about potential successors.
Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint‑Germain and a powerful figure on the UEFA executive committee, has been mentioned in the press, though he has publicly denied any interest in replacing Infantino. Former FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al‑Khalifa, now AFC president, also opposed the sell‑off and could emerge as a contender. Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF president, who previously enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino, recently rejected the proposal as well. Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president, is frequently cited as a possible alternative.
Čeferin advocates a very different vision for football governance, one that would eliminate practices such as hydration breaks, the FIFA Peace Prize, private jets for the president, and the controversial £1 million World Cup ticket pricing. However, Čeferin has not expressed any public ambition to run for the FIFA presidency. In summary, Infantino is under unprecedented scrutiny and pressure from multiple fronts.
While he continues to rally support from certain regions, the coordinated backlash from European federations, the threat of legal action by UEFA, and the erosion of his traditional allies suggest that his tenure may be nearing its end. The upcoming FIFA election in Morocco will likely serve as the decisive moment for the sport's leadership, determining whether Infantino can retain his position or whether a new era of governance will begin.