Confederations voice concerns over FIFA leadership
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf have collectively issued an open letter to the football community, expressing significant concerns regarding the current leadership of FIFA. The letter, signed by the presidents of the three confederations, calls for leadership that prioritises service to football rather than seeking to command it. This development follows the emergence of details concerning FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposed Football Forward Enterprise scheme.
The confederations accuse Infantino of a “trust broken through deception” and criticise what they perceive as a failure to acknowledge that the proposal should not have been launched unilaterally. They highlight that the growth experienced in football over the past decade was a collective effort involving FIFA, the confederations, and member associations, not the work of a single individual. The letter emphasises that football belongs to its players, fans, clubs, member associations, and all institutions entrusted with safeguarding its future.
The joint statement asserts that the issue is not about financial resources, noting that the confederations have previously advocated for the responsible distribution of FIFA’s existing reserves to enhance investment in member associations. It also clarifies that the concerns are not about any member association losing financial support or revisiting decisions on competition expansion or World Cup allocations, which were made collectively and should stand.
Instead, the core of their concern is described as more fundamental: the integrity of the game and the integrity of those elected to lead it. The letter states that leadership in football is a duty of service, not a possession of power. It argues that when trust is broken through deception and an individual places themselves above the collective, that duty has been abandoned.
Criticism of FIFA’s response and calls for independent review
The confederations strongly criticise FIFA’s handling of the situation, particularly its characterisation of the issue as a “failure of communication” rather than a “failure of judgment.” They contend that advancing a proposal on a compressed timeline, without meaningful consultation and pushed towards a deadline before member associations could properly review its terms, was a deliberate design to limit scrutiny, not an oversight.
The letter further states that there has been no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup constituted a profound failure of judgment and a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA is meant to serve. It also points out that FIFA’s own letter acknowledged mistakes in the process.
Concerns were also raised about a recent meeting in Morocco, where only one elected official was present alongside a select number of FIFA management committee members, rather than the full committee or FIFA Council members. The confederations view this as a continuation of a pattern of conduct that reinforces their concerns, suggesting it is not the behaviour of a custodian of the game but of someone who believes the game is answerable to them.
The three presidents are calling for an independent review of these events, to be conducted by a body outside of football, rather than by FIFA itself or its staff. This contrasts with FIFA’s commitment to present a full report to the FIFA Council. The confederations have also initiated preliminary discussions about organising new competitions, with UEFA having previously threatened to boycott FIFA events. This includes the possibility of next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup proceeding without European teams.
Potential leadership changes and broader support
The open letter is understood to be a push for Gianni Infantino to resign. Efforts to find a suitable candidate to replace him have intensified since his privately-backed scheme was revealed. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani is believed to be among the leading contenders for the FIFA presidency.
The confederations are exploring all options within FIFA’s statutes and governance framework to facilitate a change in leadership. Candidates for the FIFA election must announce their bid by 18 November. While the letter outlines the strong stance of UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf, support for Infantino remains from other influential confederations, including the African and South American confederations, Caf and Conmebol.
Some larger member associations have reportedly written to Infantino requesting a meeting to discuss his actions regarding the Football Forward Enterprise scheme, though no response has been received. The confederations conclude their letter by stating, “There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness,” and reiterate that football’s strength lies in its unity, calling for leadership that serves the game.
Source: uefa.com
