Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have accused Fifa and its president, Gianni Infantino, of breaking trust “through deception.” This accusation was made in an open letter signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the three regional governing bodies.
The letter states that recent controversy surrounding the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal is fundamentally about “the integrity of the game, and the integrity of those elected to lead it.” The FFE proposal involved creating a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all Fifa competitions, including the World Cups, with 21% to be sold to a private investment company.
Criticism of the FFE proposal
The FFE proposal was abandoned following widespread criticism from several confederations, with Uefa leading the opposition and threatening a boycott of all Fifa competitions. The open letter asserts that when trust is broken through deception, and an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.
The letter also states that leadership in football is a duty of service to the football family, not a possession or a means to demand power. While the statement does not explicitly name Gianni Infantino, sources indicate it should be seen as an opportunity for him to resign with dignity.
This development follows a statement from Fifa that criticised a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and Gianni Infantino. The three confederations, representing Europe, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and Asia, criticised Fifa’s statement issued after Gianni Infantino called management board members to a meeting in Rabat, Morocco.
The confederations highlighted that Gianni Infantino excluded Fifa council members and member associations from the meeting, instead summoning only Fifa-employed senior staff. The open letter adds that Fifa’s admission of mistakes in the FFE process did not go far enough.
The letter argues that the proposal itself was “inherently wrong” and that attempting to sell an interest in the Fifa World Cup represented a “profound failure of judgement,” not merely a procedural misstep. It describes this as a “fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions Fifa exists to serve.”
Calls for independent review and unity
Fifa has committed to presenting a report to the next meeting of the Fifa council, which is expected in October. However, the three confederations believe this fails to acknowledge that proper governance, in light of such a profound lack of judgment, would necessitate a review conducted by a fully independent third party.
The letter also noted “silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness.” It reiterated a legal warning from Uefa that Fifa should preserve all documents related to the abandoned plans.
Preliminary discussions have taken place among the three confederations regarding potential breakaway competitions should Gianni Infantino remain in his position. Uefa has maintained that Fifa’s defence of Gianni Infantino does not alter the possibility of a boycott of competitions.
The open letter emphasizes that “football’s strength has always been its unity” and calls for leadership that serves football rather than seeking to command it. While Concacaf and Asia have not publicly committed to a boycott, some nations within these confederations have expressed support for Gianni Infantino.
For example, Mexico, a Concacaf nation, supported the Fifa president last week. Among the 46 AFC members, eight countries have publicly backed Gianni Infantino: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Bhutan.
The first test of Uefa’s potential boycott is expected in just over three weeks, with the start of the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, which will feature England and five other European nations. France has stated its intention to compete.
The joint statement from the confederations is seen as a significant development, with sources suggesting it is a clear message for Gianni Infantino to resign with dignity rather than seek re-election. Discussions about organising competitions among themselves have begun to ensure players can still compete even if Fifa tournaments are boycotted.
The AFC, with its 46 countries, is considered a key battleground in this crisis. The fact that AFC president Sheikh Salman signed the letter indicates confidence that many within the confederation desire change. Gianni Infantino still retains support from South America, Africa, and Mexico within Concacaf.
If Uefa and Concacaf were to vote as a bloc, with some exceptions, they would only need approximately a third of the AFC to join them to win any vote. The ongoing rebellion against Gianni Infantino continues to intensify pressure in what has been described as an unprecedented civil war in world football.
The open letter was signed by Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC President), Victor Montagliani (Concacaf President), Aleksander Čeferin (Uefa President), Datuk Seri Windsor John (AFC General Secretary), Philippe Moggio (Concacaf General Secretary), and Theodore Theodoridis (Uefa General Secretary).
Source: bbc.co.uk