The major regional confederations of world football are debating the possibility of pushing a motion of no confidence to force the departure of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after he irritated them with his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, according to Reuters following conversations with senior officials familiar with the talks.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, which groups North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, are considering this option. Reuters has found no precedent in FIFA’s 122-year history of the Congress holding a motion of no confidence against a sitting president.
“There is no other way out,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. “Either he leaves voluntarily and decides not to run in March, or it will be by force,” they added, referring to a possible motion of no confidence. According to FIFA statutes, the Council can convene an Extraordinary Congress at any time. Furthermore, it is obliged to do so if at least one-fifth of the 211 member federations submit a written request specifying the matters to be addressed.
The Extraordinary Congress must be held within three months. Each participating federation has one vote. FIFA statutes do not explicitly contemplate a motion of no confidence against its president.
FIFA did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
UEFA also did not directly comment on whether the motion is on the table and referred Reuters to a previous statement calling for a “deep and fundamental” review of FIFA’s leadership and governance, noting that “no option should be ruled out.”
CONCACAF avoided direct comment and referred to a previous joint statement with UEFA and AFC accusing FIFA’s leadership of a fundamental breach of trust. AFC did not respond immediately.
Infantino has stated that he intends to run for re-election at the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2027 and maintains significant support among member federations, especially within the African Confederation (CAF).
FIFA has apologized to the federations for the mistakes made in managing the proposal. Last week, six Arab associations, including Qatar and Morocco, co-host of the 2030 World Cup, publicly expressed their support for Infantino. Additionally, FIFA leadership reiterated its full support for him after a crisis meeting held in Morocco earlier this month.
A senior source told Reuters that although the three confederations support a motion of no confidence, there is fear that failure would strengthen Infantino by demonstrating that he still retains a solid electoral base ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Infantino is under intense pressure following the collapse of his proposal to sell a minority stake in a new FIFA commercial entity to private investors. That company would have controlled the commercial rights of the World Cup, the main asset of world football.
FIFA estimates its revenues during the 2023-2026 cycle will exceed 15 billion dollars, with most of that figure generated in the year of the 2026 World Cup.
Three of FIFA’s six continental confederations, UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, opposed the project and have since harshly criticized Infantino’s management for lack of transparency, consultation, and good governance.
The crisis worsened this week with the departure of FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kevin Lamour, who had criticized the investment project and claimed that staff had been “deceived” by what he called “a one-man project.” FIFA did not explain the reasons for his departure.
Also this week, FIFA Vice President Sándor Csányi withdrew his support for Infantino and said that Lamour’s departure was “the last straw.”
Support still exists
However, Infantino’s detractors face significant obstacles.
No alternative candidate has publicly stepped forward before the candidacy submission deadline, set for November 18, and the Swiss leader still has support within the organization.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said last week that Infantino maintains Africa’s backing and that his future should be decided through FIFA elections.
According to the now-abandoned investment proposal, federations would have been able to access up to 20 million dollars in extraordinary funding for infrastructure, coach training, national teams, competitions, grassroots football, and women’s football.
“Those willing to face Infantino at the polls should step forward,” Malawi Football Federation President Fleetwood Haiya told Reuters last week.
“They must tell us what they offer. As the Malawi Federation, I need to know what they will bring to Malawi,” he added.
Pressure from clubs
The pressure does not come only from those entitled to vote in FIFA.
The European Club Association (ECA), chaired by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, top executive of Paris Saint-Germain, and representing more than 800 clubs, is aligned with UEFA and other actors seeking changes at FIFA, according to a source familiar with the talks.
The ECA has warned FIFA that its members could refuse to participate in future editions of the men’s and women’s Club World Cup if their concerns about governance and the relationship between FIFA and clubs are not addressed. Although clubs do not vote in FIFA, they have considerable sporting and commercial influence.
Michael Payne, former marketing director of the International Olympic Committee, said that even an electoral victory for Infantino would not necessarily resolve existing divisions.
“It’s all well and good to win by 51% with the support of many small federations while the big football powers are against you. How do you run an organization like that?” Payne told Reuters.
No FIFA sponsor has publicly criticized Infantino over this crisis.
“Sponsors wonder: ‘How can you organize such a successful World Cup and then shoot yourself in the foot afterwards?’” Payne added.
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