UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF accuse FIFA president of self-interest over World Cup stake proposal

European (UEFA), Asian (AFC), and North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) football confederations have lambasted FIFA president Gianni Infantino for what they perceive as self-serving motives in his proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup. In a united statement, the confederations accused Infantino of eroding trust through deception following his suggestion to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial entity overseeing FIFA's tournament rights to private investors.

The joint letter to the football community underscored that leadership involves responsibility, not ownership or the pursuit of personal gain, asserting that football does not belong to any single individual. The confederations contended that Infantino's actions, characterized by deception and prioritizing personal interests over collective welfare, amounted to a betrayal of their trust and a breach of duty.

Despite FIFA announcing the abandonment of its plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of its tournaments, UEFA has steadfastly vowed to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The crisis has intensified with UEFA threatening legal action against FIFA and its president. Infantino had initially rescinded FIFA's plan to sell a World Cup stake after receiving extensive criticism, revealing a proposal to sell a stake in a new company managing FIFA's tournament rights, potentially raising up to $4.2 billion.