UEFA on Saturday intensified its criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying the world governing body’s leadership has lost the trust of much of the global football community despite abandoning its controversial proposal to bring private investors into FIFA competitions.
The European governing body welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan, which would have allowed outside investment in tournaments including the FIFA World Cup, describing the reversal as a victory for football’s stakeholders.
UEFA said the proposal had been unanimously rejected by its 55 member associations and opposed by many national federations and continental confederations worldwide. It thanked supporters, clubs, players, leagues and political leaders who publicly challenged the plan, insisting that “football is not for sale.”
The organisation also criticised the way the proposal was developed, accusing FIFA of pursuing the idea through a secretive process that lacked transparency. It said President Gianni Infantino had failed to deliver on the promises of openness and good governance he made when elected in 2016.
UEFA announced it will work with member associations and other confederations to examine how the proposal emerged and recommend reforms to prevent a similar situation in future.
Calling the withdrawal of the proposal “a victory for the whole game,” UEFA said rebuilding confidence in FIFA remains the bigger challenge, adding that “the task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.”