UEFA boss Ceferin says trust in world football remains broken after FIFA investment row
OEIRAS: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said trust in world football had not been restored following the collapse of FIFA’s controversial private-investment plan, in his first public comments since FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered a review of the governing body’s decision-making.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has stated that trust in global football remains shattered following FIFA's aborted plan for private investment, in his debut public remarks since FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented a review of the governing body's decision-making process. During a video address to the Portugal Football Summit, Ceferin emphasized that unity, transparency, and governance serving the wider game were crucial for maintaining trust in football.
However, he acknowledged that not everyone places the sport above personal interests. Ceferin explained that trust in football is built upon three pillars: unity, transparency, and governance benefiting the many, not the few. He asserted that while the project causing the rift in world football may be dismantled, the damaged trust has not been restored, and the task now lies in rebuilding it.
Ceferin did not explicitly mention Infantino or FIFA but his comments were a clear reference to the abandoned plan to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The proposal was abandoned in July due to strong opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. Ceferin reiterated that football is not for sale, expressing confidence that this summit would further propagate the UEFA's stance.
His comments came two days after Infantino attempted to alleviate the situation by writing a letter to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations, inviting them to consider an independent external review of FIFA's governance framework for major strategic initiatives, and proposing consultations with confederations, member associations, and other stakeholders to strengthen its decision-making processes.
Despite Infantino's commitment to leading FIFA, Ceferin urged those in charge to remember whom they serve, stating that the sport will remain secure only if those governing it keep the governed in mind.
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