Shafaqna Pakistan: Pressure intensified on FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday after his controversial plan to bring private investment into World Cup financing was shelved, with European governing body UEFA renewing its threat to boycott FIFA competitions.
The 56-year-old Swiss official has also faced criticism from South America’s CONMEBOL, although he received support from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Infantino was given the “full support” of senior FIFA directors during an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, but UEFA responded with a strongly worded statement.
UEFA’s initial warning last Thursday that it could boycott FIFA tournaments is reportedly believed to have played a key role in persuading Infantino to abandon the proposed private investment deal. Calls for his resignation intensified after he withdrew the proposal last Saturday.
FIFA had estimated that the creation of a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), could generate up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion. The proposed entity would have been responsible for organising major competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Although the abandonment of the proposal was one of UEFA’s conditions for it to withdraw its threat, it said that not all of its demands had been met.“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions,” read its statement
“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
“These conditions have not been met.”Whilst UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan last Saturday, it had slammed Infantino and his “shabby, backroom, opaque deal”. Its tone had not changed in Thursday’s statement.
“UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds,” it said. Several UEFA member associations have withdrawn support for Infantino’s bid to be re-elected to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March.
A prominent critic, Norwegian football chief Lise Klaveness, is likely to pour more fuel on the fire when she holds a press conference on Friday.Infantino was also criticised by usually supportive South American governing body CONMEBOL.
“The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature,” read its statement.
CONMEBOL, though, said regarding Infantino’s future it would not countenance anything other than a straight contest — if a challenger comes forward by November 18 when nominations close — in Rabat.
Source: The News
