FIFA chief Infantino's position looks unacceptable, head of European leagues says

Gianni Infantino's tenure as FIFA president appears to be compromised due to his unsuccessful attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights, according to the head of European football leagues. Claudius Schaefer, representing 53 professional leagues, stated there could only be one consequence following the plan's failure which sparked widespread protests from regional associations.

Schaefer expressed his surprise at Infantino's unilateral actions, claiming that when key bodies aren't involved in a decision, it's usually a sign of an unacceptable situation within a company or association. Infantino announced the cancellation of the plan after a significant backlash. European leagues UEFA and CONCACAF expressed their loss of confidence in Infantino's leadership.

Schaefer criticized the proposal, stating it was primarily focused on maximizing financial gains for third parties by introducing more and larger competitions, disregarding other factors. He emphasized that the European leagues opposed this move as it would burden the already packed international calendar with additional matches, potentially compromising national championships.

Schaefer highlighted that the plans were kept secret from even the FIFA Council, the governing body of FIFA, which he found astonishing given Infantino's unilateral decision-making.