The leaders of UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC are prepared to take extreme measures to oust FIFA president Gianni Infantino, including setting up their own rival competition. The FIFA president's days appear numbered after his failed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup, but Infantino is determined to fight on. He has tried to lean on old acquaintances but has lost the faith of several major world organisations.
Rival tournament blueprint
UEFA has been the most outspoken federation and has backing from other continental organisations. According to The Times, they are prepared to create their own tournament, and UEFA has a blueprint for a global league having commissioned one in 2017 without using it.
One source told the newspaper: “Everyone is very determined he needs to go, and if not we will take all the necessary steps [to remove him from power]. That includes future international competitions — would the big South American countries prefer to play France or Spain, or Lebanon or Djibouti? Everyone is very determined, there are no backward steps now.”
Governance boycott and legal action
It remains feasible that Infantino will ignore the noise and try for re-election in March as he eyes a fourth term. His opponents would be prepared to impose a “governance boycott” that would see them refuse to take part in FIFA council or committee meetings.
A number of European associations, including England and Wales, have withdrawn letters of support for Infantino's re-election after his World Cup sale plans fell flat. This comes after the FA had supported Infantino via a letter as recently as June.
UEFA was outspoken against the FIFA president during the World Cup, heavily criticising his decision to suspend the red card handed to Folarin Balogun, while their president Aleksander Ceferin refused to attend the final last month in New York.
Europe's governing body has signalled its intent to take legal action after FIFA and said in a letter: “UEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by Fifa and all related matters.
“You and Fifa are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or Fifa’s possession, custody, or control.
“These obligations arise independently of any internal retention policy you or your organisation maintain and supersede any routine document destruction or deletion policies that would otherwise apply.”
