UEFA Expresses No Confidence in FIFA President Infantino Following Failed World Cup Plan

GENEVA (AP) — UEFA has expressed a lack of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino following his proposal to sell World Cup profits to private investors, which faced significant backlash. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated that no options should be off the table regarding Infantino's presidency. UEFA's statement came after the North and Central American and Caribbean soccer governing body (CONCACAF) called for accountability, criticizing the leadership for prioritizing personal interests over the sport. Infantino's plan to create a $20 billion company to manage the World Cup was scrapped after widespread opposition from various soccer bodies, including UEFA and CONCACAF. Infantino's senior adviser resigned, highlighting a lack of transparency in the planning process. UEFA plans to work with its associations and other confederations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Asian soccer confederation also emphasized the need for proper governance and consultation in the sport. Infantino's previous proposals, including a $25 billion offer from SoftBank and playing World Cups every two years, have also faced criticism and were eventually abandoned. The deadline for candidates to enter the next FIFA presidential contest is November 18, four months ahead of the vote in Rabat, Morocco.