UEFA has issued an ultimatum to FIFA president Gianni Infantino: resign or face an emergency no-confidence vote from Europe's 55 member associations. The demand follows Infantino's forced withdrawal of a plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights worth an estimated $15 billion. [1]
UEFA announced a loss of confidence on Saturday and demanded change, accusing Infantino of pursuing "secret plans" that offered questionable benefits for the game. The statement quoted Infantino's own 2016 campaign promises about transparency: "Of course we have to be transparent. I have been this in the last 15 years of my life in UEFA." [1] On both promises, UEFA said, he has failed.
The governance collapse is now total. All 55 UEFA member nations would opt to oust Infantino in a vote of no-confidence if he refuses to step down. Under Article 25 of FIFA's statutes, an extraordinary congress must be called if one fifth of member associations submit a written request — that threshold is 43 nations, and UEFA alone boasts 55. The congress must be held within three months of the request. [2]
Concacaf — the governing body representing North and Central America — also issued a demand for change, calling Infantino guilty of an "egregious act of poor governance and leadership." The Asian Football Confederation confirmed it would resist the plan, saying it stood "in solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf to protect the FIFA World Cup." Together, UEFA, the AFC, and Concacaf represent 143 of FIFA's 211 member associations. [3]
The revolt continued to grow when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest. Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, said staff had been "deceived." Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for Infantino to step down, and President Trump — a close ally of Infantino's — revealed he had not been consulted on the plan. [1]
Removing the FIFA president requires a simple majority at an extraordinary congress — more than 50% of valid votes, equivalent to 106. Even with 143 nations opposing the stake-sale plan, there is no guarantee all would back his removal in a vote. UEFA appears determined to keep piling on the pressure regardless.