A leaked document reportedly shows that FIFA and Gianni Infantino were not just aware of the European Super League plans in 2021, but wanted in on the failed scheme
Gianni Infantino tried to get FIFA involved in the failed attempts to establish a European Super League, according to a leaked document.
Infantino is currently desperately trying to cling onto power as FIFA president following the humiliating U-turn over his plans to sell stakes in tournaments like the World Cup. Infantino has now apologised for secretly plotting to welcome private investment, while insisting that he will continue as president.
But UEFA and their allies are understood to remain determined to oust the Swiss from his position. They have encouraged their members to backtrack on their previous support for Infantino ahead of his attempt to be re-elected for a fourth term in March.
And the revelation that the recent plot was not the first time that Infantino had used football’s governing body to try to usher in outside money will pile further pressure onto him and strengthen his detractors’ resolve. The Guardian reports that Infantino held talks about branding the European Super League as “FIFA Super League”.
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The European Super League fell flat in a matter of days in the spring of 2021 after becoming public knowledge. The 12 clubs involved in trying to form a closed-shop breakaway league from UEFA were forced into an embarrassing climbdown after fan protests.
It has now emerged that Infantino and FIFA were also involved, having created a ‘term sheet’ for the league in October 2020. Infantino reportedly wanted a ‘golden share’ in the breakaway, while a 12-year partnership, which would’ve seen FIFA run the commercial operation, was proposed.
There were also plans to tie FIFA’s Club World Cup to the Super League. It is reported that, like with the private investment scheme, FIFA’s federations were not consulted in the early stages of the scheme.
In response to the article, a FIFA spokesperson replied on X, writing: “The FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, in his address to the 45th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland in April 2021, clearly expressed FIFA’s strong disapproval of the proposed European breakaway league project: ‘At FIFA, we can only strongly disapprove the creation of a super league which is a closed shop, which is a breakaway from the current institutions, from the leagues, from the associations, from UEFA and from FIFA, which is outside of the system. There is no doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval for this’.”
Those words from Infantino came after it was clear the European Super League was doomed to be a spectacular failure. All six of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool – pulled out quickly following the backlash, while Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid soon joined them.
Barcelona and Real Madrid held on longer to the pipe dream before quietly backing out in 2025 and 2026 respectively. A company called A22 Sports Management is still trying to pursue the idea through the courts, but it largely been consigned to the history books until now.
Meanwhile, Infantino has gone on the offensive in his attempts to secure his position at the head of FIFA, where he has sat for 10 years. After holding a meeting in Morocco, he issued a letter with FIFA general secretary, Mattias Grafstrom, which outlined the new approach to sweeping the ordeal under the carpet.
It said: “With the project withdrawn, FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.”
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