UEFA declare loss of confidence in Gianni Infantino after World Cup sell-off controversy | OneFootball

European nations welcome decision to abandon FFE scheme

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has “lost the confidence” of UEFA over a plan to sell stakes in a World Cup company to private investors, the European football governing body has said.

Infantino announced overnight that the plan would not proceed after three confederations rejected it, with UEFA going further and saying it would boycott FIFA competitions until the proposal was scrapped.

While UEFA welcomed the decision to drop the proposal, it believes Infantino has lost the trust of the football world through his actions.

“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account,” UEFA said.

“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close co-operation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.

“That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

The FA have echoed UEFA’s call, adding via a spokesperson: “We fully support UEFA’s position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long - term stewardship of football at its heart.”