FIFA President Gianni Infantino is “scrapping his proposal” of selling a stake in the organization’s tournaments to private equity groups, according to Martyn Ziegler of the London TIMES. UEFA’s decision on Thursday to “boycott Fifa tournaments … was the beginning of the end” for the idea. Infantino insisted that the vote on the proposal would continue, but it was quickly “dealt a series of body blows that have proved fatal.” The Asian Football Confederation “issued a statement condemning the plan and the process behind it, echoing the response” of Concacaf. Combining the AFC (47 members) and Concacaf (35) with UEFA (55) meant the “maths for Infantino suddenly showed that he was in deep trouble.” Additionally, FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a member of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, “resigned in protest with a bombshell of a statement” and FIFA COO Kevin Lamour “launched a blistering attack on the project and his own president.” The developments over the course of the week has left Infantino’s future with FIFA “in serious doubt” (London TIMES, 8/1).
The fallout for Infantino from the failed plan has put him “under immense pressure as he seeks re-election for a fourth term as president at the Fifa Congress in March.” Potential candidates have until Nov. 18 “to put their names forward.” It has been “anticipated Infantino would be re-elected unopposed,” as associations around the world, including some in Europe, had already confirmed their intention to vote for him.” However, it “remains to be seen if the events of this week will result in a mass withdrawal of their support” (BBC, 8/1).