Whilst UEFA and, for example, the DFB continue to voice criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, he is adopting a combative stance. Most recently, the 56-year-old has addressed all member associations and expressed his openness to reform. He has also stated that his World Cup plan has been scrapped 100 per cent.
FIFA, as an institution, accuses UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against President Gianni Infantino, whilst the DFB, under its own president Bernd Neuendorf, considers “the Infantino system” to be no longer viable for the future.
And Infantino himself? The former general secretary of the Union of European Football Associations has been addressing the 211 member associations of FIFA in a letter of his own since this Monday. The gist of it all: despite massive and persistent criticism levelled at him personally, Infantino is not giving up; he is canvassing for votes and, according to his own statement, is open to a dialogue on FIFA reforms.
“A direct, structured, time-limited consultation”
The letter in question, which has been seen by, amongst others, the AFP news agency and The Athletic, addresses this and other issues in detail as follows. Firstly, Infantino, who intends to stand for re-election in 2027 despite the global protests, is proposing a “consultation” with the member associations to reform the decision-making processes of FIFA, which is currently in crisis.
He would propose that the FIFA Council, which is due to meet next on 15 October, “organise a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with the confederations, the member associations and the relevant stakeholders on how FIFA’s decision-making processes can be further strengthened”, wrote the FIFA President. In doing so, “concrete proposals should be sought on involving the institutions at an earlier stage, on the respective roles of the President, the Executive Committee, the Council and the Congress, as well as on practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in key strategic initiatives”.
Sale? “Never”
Infantino had recently failed in his attempt to sell shares in the world governing body’s tournaments to private investors, including some with links to US President Donald Trump.
In this regard, the Swiss-Italian-Lebanese football official emphasised once again in his comprehensive clarification “that FIFA’s democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never up for sale. They are not for sale and never will be.”
The planned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project would “not have involved any relinquishment of FIFA’s control or authority over sporting decisions”, Infantino went on to explain. “The proposal was made public before the institutional process planned by FIFA had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the member associations.”
He understood “that, taken out of context, this caused concern and gave the impression that decisions had already been taken.”
However, this was “not the case”, according to the FIFA chief. “It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to the necessary approvals by the Council and the member associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not be pursued further.”
Despite massive criticism from parts of the football world, Infantino is by no means signalling a withdrawal, but rather his determination to remain at the helm of FIFA. Alongside others, UEFA in particular is calling for Infantino to step down and is preparing to file a criminal complaint against him in Switzerland. The European football governing body’s aim is to persuade Infantino to step down before his planned re-election. Otherwise, UEFA will almost certainly field an opposing candidate.
