Fifa crisis: Europe, North America and Asia unite to call for Infantino to quit

The governing bodies of European football (UEFA), North and Central American football (Concacaf), and Asian football (AFC) have united to demand that FIFA's embattled president, Gianni Infantino, resign from his position. In an open letter, they argue that his plans to effectively privatize the World Cup are a "fundamental breach of trust" rather than just a "procedural misstep."

The letter emphasizes that leadership in football is not about holding power but about serving the football community. They claim that Infantino has abandoned his duty by being deceptive and placing himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority. The three confederations, representing a majority of FIFA's 211 members, insist that their joint stance is not taken lightly and is out of duty to the game they serve.

However, some individual football associations, including those from Qatar and Mexico, have supported Infantino, indicating that consensus among them is not unanimous. Infantino's leadership has been under scrutiny since plans to sell shares in a new company managing the World Cup's commercial rights were leaked two weeks ago. The proposal has also been criticized by senior FIFA officials, such as chief operating officer Kevin Lamour and development chief Arsene Wenger.

FIFA released a statement after recent crisis talks, stating that Infantino had the support of its leadership and many member associations. Despite this, Infantino has faced fresh allegations concerning his personal life from when he was Uefa's general secretary over a decade ago. He has denied these claims, and FIFA maintains that there is a "concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president."