Key Takeaways
- Gianni Infantino faces growing pressure as FIFA president over failed World Cup commercial rights deal.
- European Leagues head Claudius Schaefer calls for Infantino's resignation, citing lack of transparency.
- Regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF have lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
Gianni Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president is under scrutiny following the collapse of his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, according to European Leagues head Claudius Schaefer.
Schaefer, who represents 53 professional football leagues across Europe, stated that there could be 'only one consequence' for Infantino due to the widespread backlash against the proposal.
In an interview with Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung, Schaefer emphasized that FIFA’s key bodies were not involved in the decision-making process, leading to a loss of trust among regional associations.
Infantino announced on Friday that the plan had been scrapped after facing significant opposition. However, this move did little to quell concerns about his leadership and decision-making processes.
Schaefer criticized Infantino for pushing forward with a business deal without consulting FIFA’s governing bodies, including the Council. He argued that such actions undermine the organization's integrity and focus on financial gains over other priorities.
The European Leagues opposed the plan because it would add more matches to an already congested international calendar, potentially harming national championships. Schaefer stated, 'Nobody knew about the plans, not even the FIFA Council.'
Regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF have also expressed their loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, signaling a broader shift in support within the football community.
Infantino’s actions have raised questions about his ability to lead FIFA effectively. Schaefer’s comments suggest that there may be significant changes on the horizon for the organization's leadership.
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.
Claudius Schaefer, Head of European Leagues
This is usually the consequence when someone in a company pushes such a business deal forward without anyone knowing about it.
Claudius Schaefer, Chief Executive of Swiss Football League
