UEFA and other associations reaffirm criticism of FIFA's Infantino

European football authorities, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, have reaffirmed their criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Their open letter, published on Monday, emphasized the need for a fresh start at the helm of the sport's governing body. The letter highlighted that football is a shared passion, belonging to the players, fans, clubs, Member Associations, and every institution responsible for safeguarding its future.

Infantino faced significant backlash after unveiling plans to sell World Cup rights to private investors, a proposal that led to major protests and eventually his withdrawal. While FIFA acknowledged mistakes in the process and termed it a "failure of communication," the associations argued that it was a "failure of judgement." They stressed that there was no recognition that selling an interest in the FIFA World Cup was fundamentally wrong and a breach of trust with the institutions FIFA exists to serve.

The associations reiterated their loss of trust in Infantino, accusing him of placing himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority. They noted that when trust is broken through deception and an individual places himself above the collective, that duty has been abandoned. According to media reports, the associations have begun discussions about organizing competitions themselves.

The letter concluded that such qualities do not merit leadership in football, and this stance was taken collectively and out of duty to the game they serve.