Infantino’s position as FIFA president untenable, head of European league says
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces calls for resignation after attempting to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights without consulting key governing bodies. European football leagues have criticized the move as a profit-driven decision that ignores the interests of national championships and the international football calendar.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights a significant power struggle within global sports governance regarding the commercialization of major tournaments.
Infantino said on Friday that FIFA had scrapped the plan to raise up to US$4.2-billion by selling about a 20 per cent stake to private investors after a widespread backlash. Darryl Dyck/The Associated Press
Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president looks untenable following his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, the head of Europe’s professional football leagues said on Sunday.
Claudius Schaefer, whose organization represents 53 professional men’s and women’s football leagues, said there could be “only one consequence” for Infantino after his plan triggered a storm of protest from regional associations.
“When I saw how this whole thing unfolded and that FIFA’s key bodies weren’t involved, then there’s essentially only one consequence in any company or association,” Schaefer told Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung.
How world soccer is governed: FIFA, UEFA and the balance of power
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in