African football chief says Infantino’s FIFA fate must go to election

By Liam Tremblay — 13 August 2026 — 4 min read

Infantino’s Future and Calls for Resignation

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, is facing increasing pressure and criticism, with calls for his resignation from various football governing bodies. This situation stems from his aborted plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a proposal that has drawn significant backlash and divided the global football landscape. The controversy surrounding the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which aimed to sell commercial and operational rights of the World Cup and other FIFA competitions, has led to a fractured response among continental confederations and national associations regarding the need for a change in leadership.

The governing bodies of European football (UEFA), North and Central America (CONCACAF), and Asia (AFC) have collectively intensified pressure on Infantino. In a joint letter, these organizations stated that “trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority.” These confederations are reportedly seeking Infantino’s resignation before he has the opportunity to seek re-election in March of next year.

Despite acknowledging that mistakes were made, FIFA and Infantino continue to face numerous obstacles in moving past the controversy. The criticism has been widespread, with several national football associations withdrawing their support for the FIFA president. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) recently rescinded its earlier letter of support, citing significant concerns regarding governance, transparency, and a lack of meaningful consultation. The English FA and Welsh FA had also previously withdrawn their backing for Infantino.

Support and Counter-Arguments

Despite the growing calls for his resignation, Infantino has received support from various quarters. Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and a FIFA vice president, has firmly stated that Infantino’s future should be decided through an election process. Motsepe emphasized that any issues against Infantino or anyone else should follow established FIFA procedures, allowing the 211 member associations to decide through a vote whether they have confidence in him.

Motsepe held discussions with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin in Salzburg during the UEFA Super Cup. UEFA has threatened to boycott the World Cup and Club World Cup in protest of Infantino’s plans. However, Motsepe maintained that CAF had already backed Infantino and asserted that there was no breach of rules concerning the World Cup sell-off talks, as the proposals would ultimately be submitted to FIFA members for final approval. He acknowledged that there are problematic and negative aspects that need to be addressed but noted that Infantino has apologized and suggested that some matters could have been handled differently.

In addition to CAF’s support, six Arab federations, including Qatar, Morocco, and Egypt, publicly offered their backing to Infantino. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump has publicly voiced his support for Infantino, stating that FIFA would be making a significant error if they considered replacing him. Trump praised Infantino’s leadership during what he described as the most successful World Cup ever presented, suggesting that without him, future tournaments would not achieve the same level of success or profitability.

The partnership between Infantino and Trump has been noted, particularly around this year’s World Cup, with some observers suggesting it threatens the integrity of FIFA as an independent organization. Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize before the tournament, a decision that drew widespread ridicule. The FFE proposal also faced criticism due to the involvement of private investors, specifically the proposed investor group Thrive Eternal, which is led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law.

Future Governance Discussions

Amidst the ongoing conflict, UEFA and its allies are exploring plans for the future structure of FIFA, should Infantino eventually be removed from his position. Discussions held in Salzburg among various football leaders, including Ceferin and Motsepe, focused on potential reforms. These discussions included plans for an independent review of FIFA’s governance and the development of a policy document to outline the future ideals and structure of the organization. One significant idea being considered is the rotation of the FIFA presidency among the continental confederations, similar to the model used by the European Union and other multinational institutions.

This proposed rotation system aims to reduce the power concentrated in the FIFA presidency, preventing any future president from wielding the extensive authority held by Infantino or his predecessors. The concept would also involve strengthening the administrative support around the presidency, creating a more robust civil service-like structure within FIFA. UEFA and its allies are reportedly focused on achieving a change in leadership and governance at FIFA as a minimum requirement during this period of crisis. The next FIFA elections are scheduled to take place in March of next year.

Source: aljazeera.com