UEFA, CONCACAF target Infantino after FIFA shelve World Cup private investment plan

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced mounting criticism from continental football governing bodies after FIFA shelved a controversial plan to allow private investment in the World Cup. UEFA, the governing body for European football, had initially led the opposition to the plan, vowing to boycott all FIFA competitions if it proceeded.

While UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal, they stated that Infantino had lost their confidence and that of other football family members due to his lack of transparency and opaque decision-making. CONCACAF, the governing body for North and Central American football, went even further, calling for a comprehensive reckoning with Infantino's presidency and slamming his poor governance and leadership.

Infantino's announcement of the plan's cancellation came after a fierce backlash following its initial revelation on Tuesday. The plan, proposed by FIFA as a way to raise up to $4.2 billion, would have generated a one-time payment of $20 million for each of FIFA's 211 member associations and increased their funding for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

However, UEFA criticized the proposal as a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" and stated that Infantino had broken his promises to be transparent and to use the associations' money for the benefit of the game.