The dispute between UEFA and FIFA has intensified as European football’s governing body threatens legal action over FIFA President Gianni Infantino‘s controversial proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.
The disagreement, which has been building since the most recent FIFA World Cup, has exposed growing divisions within world football. According to senior UEFA sources cited by BBC Sport, opponents of Infantino are now threatening to suspend cooperation with FIFA unless he steps down from office.
“There is no going back,” one source reportedly said, reflecting the depth of the divide over the proposal, which critics argue would fundamentally change the commercial structure of FIFA’s competitions.
The conflict has also begun to affect political support for Infantino’s leadership. The Football Association of Wales has publicly withdrawn its backing for his bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. England’s Football Association is expected to take the same position, while the Scottish Football Association has also aligned itself with UEFA’s stance.
Infantino’s leadership has already come under criticism from football governing bodies across Europe, North and Central America, and the Caribbean. UEFA and CONCACAF have both issued statements opposing the proposed investment plan, arguing that it raises serious governance and transparency concerns.
Pressure on the FIFA president has continued to grow as Serbia, Sweden, and Finland have also withdrawn their support for his re-election. However, Infantino continues to receive backing from several national associations, including those of Morocco, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has declared its solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF over the issue, while the confederations representing Africa (CAF), South America (CONMEBOL), and Oceania (OFC) have so far refrained from publicly criticizing the proposal.
With divisions deepening across FIFA’s member associations, the controversy has become one of the most significant governance disputes in international football in recent years, raising fresh questions about the future direction of the sport’s global governing body and the leadership of Gianni Infantino.
