The four dramatic days that shook Infantino and world football
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial private-investment plan for the World Cup following intense backlash from UEFA and other football governing bodies. The incident has severely damaged his leadership standing within the organization.
Why it matters
The collapse of this funding plan reflects the ongoing tension between commercial interests and traditional governance in global sports.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his controversial World Cup funding plan
Chief football news reporter Published 17 minutes ago Any hope Gianni Infantino might have had of tiptoeing away from the scene of his World Cup private-investment wreckage having sustained only minor damage to his reputation disappeared on Saturday.
Uefa - the governing body of European football - went straight for the head of world game, saying it had "lost confidence" in his leadership.
It was one of the most ferocious statements ever aimed at the holder of that position.
Words such as "shabby" and "secret schemes" spoke for themselves.
It came after a dramatic four days for football that sparked memories of the European Super League debacle of 2021.
The ESL was a splinter league formed by 12 of Europe's biggest clubs, including six from the Premier League.
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