FIFPRO Slams Infantino Over 'Abuse of Power' as UEFA Holds Firm

FIFPRO's condemnation

World players' union FIFPRO has condemned Gianni Infantino's "abuse of presidential power" and called for change at the top of FIFA following his abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. FIFPRO said the plan "was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement" before FIFA's member associations, players and other stakeholders knew it existed, adding: "That is not merely a governance failure. It is a profound abuse of presidential power."

'Not a defence'

FIFA has maintained its actions were done "in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework." FIFPRO responded: "If true, that is not a defence. It is an indictment of FIFA's current governance framework." The union also said no institution "can restore confidence in a presidency that has itself dismantled the conditions upon which confidence depends," and warned that treating scrutiny as disloyalty "will only deepen the concern this episode has caused."

What FIFPRO wants

UEFA holds its boycott

UEFA confirmed its threatened boycott of FIFA tournaments still stands, despite FIFA's management board publicly reaffirming "full support" for Infantino following a crisis meeting in Morocco. UEFA said its conditions — that the World Cup sale plan be withdrawn and never repeated — "have not been met," adding: "UEFA made it abundantly clear... that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds." UEFA dismissed the show of support for Infantino from people "employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favour)," saying it "changes nothing."

FA withdraws support

The Football Association also formally announced on Thursday that it is withdrawing its support for Infantino's re-election as FIFA president, with a vote scheduled for March 2027.

Background

Infantino abandoned the World Cup investment plan on 1 August after days of criticism, having originally proposed spinning off commercial rights to FIFA competitions into a new company and selling a stake to private investors. His senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned over the plan on 31 July, calling it a "bad deal."