UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF renew attacks on Infantino over failed stake sale - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.
Three of FIFA’s six confederationsissued an open letterto the “football family” onMonday attackingPresidentGianni Infantino‘sconduct during the proposed sale of a stake inWorld Cup commercialrightsand calling. . .
Three of FIFA’s six confederationsissued an open letterto the “football family” onMonday attackingPresidentGianni Infantino‘sconduct during the proposed sale of a stake inWorld Cup commercialrightsand calling forleadership that works for thegame. Theletter, co-signed by the presidents of UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, called for an independent review of the now-abandoned proposaland saidInfantino had broken trust “through deception” and“placed himself above the collective”. “Football’s strength has always been its unity,” it read. “We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it. ”The Swiss administrator has faced open revoltin the two weeks sincehe proposed and then abandoned aplan to carve off the commercial rights to the World Cup and sell 20% of them to private investorsto raise about $4. 2 billion. Sources with knowledge of the drafting of thelettersaid thethree confederationsviewedthe letter asan opportunity for Infantino, who is seeking reelectionin March nextyear, to quit with his dignity intact. European body UEFA,backedby Asia’sAFC and CONCACAF, which runs football in the Caribbean, North and Central America, havethreatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until theyreceive a promise that no similar schemes will be proposed in the future. The three confederations are investigating the possibility of staging competitions amongst themselves to give players the chance to compete amid the crisis with FIFA, the sources said. “Leadership in football is not a possession,” theconfederationssaid in Monday’s statement. “It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it. “When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned. ”INDEPENDENT REVIEWThey also criticised a FIFA emergency meeting in Morocco last week, saying there was only one elected official present, while also calling for an independent review, which FIFA would have no role in, to determine what led to this “profound failure of judgement. ”U. S. Soccer, Canada Soccer, which co-hosted the 2026 World Cup with Mexico, joined with the Caribbean Football Union and the Central American Football Union to back the stance, saying FIFA needed “meaningful” change. “(We) stand together, along with our colleagues around the world, in calling for meaningful change that strengthens FIFA’s governance, transparency and accountability,” they said in a statement. U. S. President Donald Trump, though, later posted a message on social media backing Infantino to the hilt. “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” he wrote. “He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again. ”The endorsement might not be that effective, however, given the close association between Trump and Infantino at the World Cup in June and July troubled many in the game. Those concerns were amplified when a company run by the brother of Trump’s son in law emerged as a key mover in the controversial stake-sale plan. Trump said he had not discussed the plan with Infantino. Despite the opposition of the three confederations, which represent 136 of the 211 member associations who will vote in the FIFA presidential election in March, Infantino has plenty of allies in the game. Several AFC nations, as well as Mexico from CONCACAF, have already said they will back him. After quelling in-house dissent at the emergencyFIFA meeting in Morocco lastWednesday, Infantino rallied his supportbefore heading to Colombia to attend the inauguration of new President Abelardo De La Espriella in Cali. Africa’s confederation CAF released a statement on behalf of its 54 members backing Infantino on Thursday with South American countries Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador and Boliviafollowing suit. BLISTERING ATTACKOnFriday, FIFA released a blistering attack on the critics of thepresident. It warned against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine Infantino, saying attempts to challenge his leadership must follow the governing body’s statutes and democratic procedures. The statementechoed thoseof several of the bodies that supported Infantino, as well as one from South American confederation CONMEBOL. FIFA’s statement came after reportsinThe Daily Telegraph about payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino’s time as the European governing body’s general secretary, allegations he has denied and that FIFA has rejected as unfounded. Almost 70 of FIFA’s member associations have said publicly they will vote for Infantino,who would need a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting or a simple majority in subsequent rounds to extend his presidency until 2031. Any rivals to Infantino have until November 18 to announce their candidature. Infantino has apologised for mistakes made during the stake sale proposal but the letter from the three confederations said that was not enough. “It did not acknowledge that the proposal itself was inherently wrong,” it read. “There remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment — not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve. ”