UEFA Welcomes World Cup Stake Sale Withdrawal, Wants Infantino Out

UEFA Blasts FIFA Leadership Over Opaque Decisions

UEFA has criticised FIFA leadership led by Gianni Infantino, accusing it of pushing opaque decisions that undermine trust and transparency in global football governance.

In a statement, the European football body signalled a growing rift with FIFA, warning that recent actions have weakened confidence among member associations and stakeholders across the sport.

“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account,” read part of the statement.

UEFA Calls for Action and Review

Following the criticism, UEFA said it will move quickly to address the situation by working with its member associations and other confederations to examine how the situation unfolded and prevent similar incidents in the future.

“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental,” the organization stated.

Also Read: FIFA to Proceed with Selling Part of Its Stake to Private Investors Despite Uproar

UEFA added that the review will examine recent decisions and identify ways to strengthen accountability across football leadership.

Pressure Mounts on FIFA Leadership

At the same time, UEFA said FIFA’s current leadership has lost the confidence of key members of the football community.

The criticism has increased pressure on Infantino’s administration over its approach to decision-making.

“No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA stated.

UEFA also revisited promises Infantino made in 2016, saying he failed to deliver on commitments about transparency and the use of FIFA funds.

Also Read: The Spectacle of Modern Sport: How FIFA Turned the 2026 World Cup into a Different Show

Focus Turns to Rebuilding Trust

Looking ahead, UEFA said it will work with partners around the world to propose a new way of distributing resources through the FIFA Forward programme.

The European body said FIFA should use its financial reserves to support grassroots football in all 211 member associations while protecting the long-term interests of the game.

“We must start to use some of that money that is sat idle in FIFA’s bank account to deliver the kick start that the grassroots and the wider game need in each of the 211 countries of FIFA. But we don’t need to sell off the family silver to pay for it,” It added.

Finally, UEFA described this moment as a turning point, saying that although one proposal has been stopped, the broader challenge of rebuilding trust in FIFA is only just beginning

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