Now Reading: FIFA warns of plot to undermine Infantino as crisis deepens
-
01
FIFA warns of plot to undermine Infantino as crisis deepens
FIFA has warned of a concerted effort to undermine President Gianni Infantino, as a leadership crisis deepens after his $4.2 billion investment plan collapsed. The denial followed reports by The Daily Telegraph…
The Story in Brief
FIFA has warned of a concerted effort to undermine President Gianni Infantino, as a leadership crisis deepens after his $4.2 billion investment plan collapsed. The denial followed reports by The Daily Telegraph about payments UEFA made to a former employee during Infantino's time as its general secretary. Infantino has denied the allegations, and FIFA called them unsubstantiated and demonstrably false.
European soccer's governing body UEFA has withdrawn confidence in Infantino, and Norwegian federation chief Lise Klaveness has demanded his resignation. But Infantino retains broad support among FIFA's 211 members. The African Football Confederation unanimously backed him, South America's CONMEBOL opposed any ouster outside a full member vote, and Mexico's federation also backed him. A crisis meeting in Morocco reaffirmed support for Infantino, whose bid for a fourth term in March 2026 now faces uncertainty.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Infantino is universally isolated misses the split reality: African and South American confederations back him, while Europe and Norway want him out. Calls for his resignation are presented as a democratic revolt, yet FIFA's own statutes require a member vote, not media campaigns. The real test is whether the Telegraph payments story produces any legal action. Without that, this remains a political power struggle dressed as a scandal: who loses trust first among the 211 members?
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
