Should Gianni Infantino resign from FIFA? Have your say after scathing UEFA attack

Gianni Infantino offered FIFA's 211 members 30m a piece to back his controversial plans to create a company featuring private investors to run the World Cup and other FIFA events.

He attempted to effectively blackmail those nations, telling them that they would not get that 30m if they didn't back his proposal and the majority endorsed his FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) venture. Associations were asked to make a decision by September 19.

The lead investor to Infantino's scheme had been proposed to be Thrive Eternal, a company founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of United States President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The same Donald Trump to whom Infantino has cosied up to no end in recent years.

Now, the FIFA president is experiencing the kind of backlash he either didn't foresee or did not expect, with UEFA leading the charge.

European nations have announced that they will BOYCOTT all FIFA competitions until the global body drops its plans, following a crisis meeting on Thursday afternoon - called some 48 hours after Infantino's plans were initially leaked.

UEFA's anger was made crystal clear, declaring: "UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFAs proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.

"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of footballs greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

They labelled Infantino's proposal "irresponsible and indefensible". They added it was "not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFAs duty as the custodian of world football."

They pointedly commented: "This is not a 'democratic decision', but governance by intimidation an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game."

They continued: This model has no place in world football. Footballs future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return."

They insisted: Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination."

And UEFA ended by declaring war on Infantino and his plans, stating: Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

Now the question where the FIFA president is concerned is a simple one...

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

[Google Preferred Source Badge]Follow Daily Mirror: