Fifa World Cup sell-off LIVE: Uefa declares loss of confidence in Infantino as controversial plan scrapped

The Independent’s Will Castle outlines six candidates that could challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency.

Calls are growing from Uefa member associations to back a candidate to run against Infantino, and the European governing body’s president Ceferin appears the most qualified.

A rival of Infantino, Ceferin most recently no-showed the World Cup 2026 final after the tournament was plagued by controversy, most notably the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card ban following a “review” request from Trump, which Uefa said “crossed a red line”.

The Slovenian lawyer has been incumbent since 2016 but is reportedly keen to continue in his current role. He had initially ruled out standing for a third term next spring, at least until 2031, but is now willing to seek re-election if no other candidates step forward.

As things stand, it appears he is not eager to challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency, which has led Uefa members to look elsewhere.

Uefa vice president Laura McAllister has hit out at Gianni Infantino for his World Cup sell-off plan and says trust in the Fifa boss has been “badly shaken”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, McAllister said: “It’s not for me to speak for for Uefa at this moment in time, but I think trust in the president of Fifa has been badly shaken this week, without a doubt, and I think quite rightly, people will ask questions about whether he is the leader to take us forward as a global football organisation.

“Because we have to stick to the ethical principles of sustainability, fair play, and accessibility to football that really motivate us all. So I think those are the questions that all of us involved in football will be asking now.”

Asked if she could envision circumstances in which Uefa might find a challenger to him to stand against him, she said: “I think all of the confederations would be considering options now for sure, and we’ll certainly be doing that in Uefa.

“But you know, it’s a democratic election. If people want to stand, they will, and there will be moves, I’m sure, to encourage people to stand. But I think it’s early days yet.”

She later added: “Interestingly, I don’t think the sport of football is damaged by what’s happened this week. I think Fifa as an organisation, is, and I think the president is.”

Infantino’s future as Fifa president is up in the air, with many demanding that he resign the role. But who might actually be able to replace him?

Will Castle has examined the contenders:

Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro quit on Friday, only adding to the pressure on the Fifa president.

Cordeiro, in announcing his departure, described the initiative to create Fifa Forward Enterprise as a “bad deal for football”.

He elaborated in a statement: “Football has been central to my life and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected.”

Here’s Gianni Infantino’s full statement backing down from his World Cup sell-off plan:

“The Fifa Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our Fifa Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed. And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the Fifa Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”

US President Donald Trump has denied discussing FIFA’s proposals to offer stakes to external investors with Gianni Infantino.

Speaking to reporters at Camp David, Mr Trump addressed the matter after Fufa announced earlier this week its intention to create a $20bn subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, although this plan has since collapsed.

This new subsidiary would have offered up to 20 per cent of its shares to outside investors and the proposed investor group was set to be led by a vehicle founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The denial comes amid a close relationship between Mr Trump and Fifa president Mr Infantino, which developed before and during the World Cup this summer.

Football chiefs will consider whether to push for a vote of no confidence in Gianni Infantino following the controversy over his World Cup sell-off plan.

Federation chiefs have already started talking about the process of a vote of no confidence, which would first necessitate a meeting of the Fifa Council and then 43 member associations – a quarter of the 211 – to push for an Extraordinary Congress.

Before that, though, everyone is waiting to see how the dust settles. Football chiefs have felt it’s all been happening too fast to even properly register.

Kevin Lamour, Fifa’s chief operating officer and about as high up as you can get in the organisation, just two rungs below Infantino, released an explosive statement condemning the plans on Friday.

He said in a statement to Associated Press: “What has been announced in recent days and what has been happening behind the scenes in recent months defies belief and imagination.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission.

“I have no authority to speak on behalf of my colleagues, and perhaps I am mistaken. But my feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us.

“I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to support my colleagues.”

Fifa’s president operates with arrogance and autonomy – the worldwide rejection of his proposals to sell off stakes in the World Cup has to now stand for as a final rejection of Infantino himself, writes Jamie Braidwood.

Fifa has scrapped its plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors, after widespread backlash and threats of a boycott.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed the controversial plan in July, declaring that a vote would determine whether or not it would go ahead, but there was anger and concern from many voices in the footballing world, while Uefa said its member countries would boycott the World Cup if the plan went through