Overview
- FIFA proposed a plan to sell stakes in its tournaments that was advanced through a five-person executive 'Bureau' without full Council sign-off and was publicly withdrawn after widespread backlash.
- The episode has fractured world football: UEFA, CONCACAF and Norway’s NFF have publicly lost confidence in the president while CAF, Argentina’s AFA and Mexico’s FMF have voiced support for him.
- Norway’s football chief Lise Klaveness has publicly demanded Infantino’s immediate resignation and is mobilizing other associations not to back him in the next election.
- Media reports allege Infantino aided a former UEFA employee’s career and pay, UEFA has confirmed a six-figure departure payment and MBA funding for that person, and Infantino denies wrongdoing.
- Russia’s football federation retains formal FIFA membership and voting rights, giving geopolitical votes potential sway in the March 2027 presidential contest as calls for governance reforms grow.