UEFA and regional allies consider FIFA boycott in bid to oust Infantino

The UEFA, CONCACAF and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are reportedly prepared to paralyse FIFA’s administration and, if necessary, create alternative international tournaments unless Gianni Infantino agrees to resign.

The Times, which first reported FIFA’s plan to sell stakes in its biggest competitions to investors through FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), says opposition to the FIFA president has now intensified.

Infantino is understood to have secured the backing of only 15 of FIFA’s 211 national associations since the controversy surrounding FFE began. According to sources quoted by the British newspaper, federations opposed to the 56-year-old are preparing a boycott of FIFA’s governance structures.

Under the proposed plan, representatives of various national associations would refuse to attend FIFA meetings. Decisions made by world football’s governing body would also no longer be approved automatically.

“Everyone is determined that he must go,” one source told The Times.

“And if he does not leave, we will take all necessary measures. That includes future international competitions.”

The newspaper reports that UEFA has already begun developing plans for a global Nations League. The concept is said to have been drawn up as early as 2017, although it was never introduced.

The possibility of establishing alternative competitions would represent a major escalation in the dispute between Infantino and a number of football associations and confederations. The reported proposals would go beyond political opposition inside FIFA by challenging the organisation’s role in staging international events.

A boycott of FIFA meetings is not the only option being considered. The Times says opponents could seek an extraordinary meeting of the FIFA Council if enough national associations support a demand for Infantino’s resignation.

UEFA has also reportedly sent FIFA a legal notice instructing the governing body to preserve all documents connected to FIFA Forward Enterprise.

The European governing body is examining whether to begin legal proceedings, launch arbitration cases or submit complaints to the relevant governing authorities, according to The Times.

The letter is said to have been addressed not only to Infantino but also to 14 other FIFA officials. Those named include FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and football development director Arsene Wenger.

The reported dispute centres on FIFA Forward Enterprise, through which FIFA is understood to have considered offering investors a stake in some of its most significant competitions. The Times’ initial report on the project triggered the wider controversy and has since fuelled opposition to Infantino’s leadership.

Infantino has just over six months remaining in his current term. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place at the organisation’s Congress in March, when he is seeking a fourth term in office.

The claims reported by The Times concern proposed actions by Infantino’s opponents and do not indicate that an alternative international competition has yet been formally established.