UEFA has threatened to seek a no-confidence vote against FIFA President Gianni Infantino after world football’s governing body abandoned a controversial proposal to sell an equity stake in the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments, deepening tensions over FIFA’s governance.
According to The Telegraph, UEFA is prepared to trigger an emergency no-confidence motion if Infantino refuses to step down, with all 55 UEFA member associations reportedly ready to support the move. Under FIFA statutes, at least 43 member associations are required to formally initiate such a vote.
The dispute centers on FIFA’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial entity that would have allowed outside investors to acquire an equity stake in FIFA’s commercial assets, including rights linked to the World Cup. FIFA said the initiative was designed to generate additional revenue for global football development.
UEFA strongly opposed the plan, welcoming its withdrawal as “a victory for the whole game” and insisting that “football is not for sale.” The European governing body said FIFA’s leadership had lost the confidence of many stakeholders in world football and accused Infantino of failing to deliver the transparency and governance reforms he pledged after taking office in 2016.
Opposition to the proposal extended beyond Europe. According to the report, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CONCACAF, clubs, leagues, players and senior football officials also raised concerns. Former FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned over the issue, while FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour reportedly criticized the handling of the proposal, describing it as a breakdown of trust within the organization.
Infantino confirmed the proposal had been withdrawn after consultations showed it had become too divisive. “Our objective has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve world football,” Infantino said.
The dispute marks one of the most significant governance challenges of Infantino’s presidency and highlights growing divisions within international football over FIFA’s commercial strategy, transparency and decision-making. While no formal no-confidence process has yet begun, the standoff underscores mounting pressure on FIFA’s leadership ahead of future decisions on the governance and commercial direction of the global game.
