UEFA has declared that it no longer has confidence in FIFA’s current leadership after world football’s governing body abandoned a controversial proposal to allow private investment in the FIFA World Cup and other major competitions.
The strongly worded statement, issued on Saturday, marks one of the sharpest public rebukes yet of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who reversed the proposal following mounting opposition from football confederations and member associations.
Earlier on Saturday, Infantino confirmed that FIFA had withdrawn the plan, saying the proposal had become too divisive despite being conceived as a way to increase financial support for football associations worldwide.
The proposal sought to establish a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would manage commercial rights to competitions including the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
FIFA estimated the project could attract up to $4.2 billion in private investment based on a valuation of $20 billion, with each of its 211 member associations expected to receive a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027. The governing body also proposed increasing funding for member associations during the 2027–2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
UEFA, however, accused FIFA of attempting to push through the initiative without adequate transparency or consultation.
In its statement, the European governing body said the current FIFA leadership had lost not only UEFA’s confidence but also that of many members of the global football community.
UEFA also criticised Infantino for failing to uphold commitments made during his 2016 election campaign on transparency and financial accountability.
The proposal faced resistance from several continental confederations. The Asian Football Confederation welcomed its withdrawal while calling for broader consultation on major governance decisions. CONCACAF opposed the proposal, while CONMEBOL requested further details before taking a position.
The controversy deepened after senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, describing the project as harmful to FIFA, its member associations and the future of football.
Infantino said FIFA would now focus on restoring unity among its stakeholders while continuing efforts to grow the game worldwide, particularly in developing football nations.
