European leagues and Figo add pressure on FIFA president Infantino amid ‘crisis’ meeting

By Liam Tremblay — 5 August 2026 — 3 min read

Infantino Faces Calls to Step Down

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing increased pressure to step down, with calls from soccer legend Luis Figo and the association of European soccer leagues. This comes after Infantino reportedly held a crisis meeting with senior staff in Rabat, Morocco, following the withdrawal of a controversial plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments.

Figo, a former player who won four La Liga titles, a Champions League trophy, and the Ballon d’Or, publicly stated that Infantino “must go.” In an op-ed, Figo described Infantino’s conduct as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” He further asserted that the solution to FIFA‘s problems requires only three words: “Infantino must go.”

The proposed plan involved establishing a separate entity with private investors to manage the commercial and operational rights of the World Cup. However, widespread backlash from fans and various continental and national soccer governing bodies, including European soccer body UEFA, led Infantino to reverse course. UEFA had previously indicated that the “soul and governance of football are not assets to trade.”

Concerns Over Governance and Decision-Making

The association of European soccer leagues, which includes major competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, described the withdrawn proposal as “dangerous.” They stated that it raised “serious questions about FIFA’s governance, internal culture and decision-making.” The organization called for governance reform within FIFA to ensure all relevant stakeholders have a formal role in decisions that shape the future of the sport.

The European leagues also criticized the possibility of further expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, asserting that FIFA should not be allowed to continue making unilateral disruptive decisions. They indicated that until reforms are implemented, they would reject the “expansion or creation” of FIFA competitions.

Figo also accused Infantino of having “debased the office of FIFA President that he promised to elevate,” alleging that he “lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.” FIFA had previously stated that any money generated from the plan would be reinvested into the sport.

Internal Divisions and Future Challenges

The controversy has highlighted internal divisions within FIFA. One of Infantino’s senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest last week. Additionally, top FIFA officials Arsène Wenger and secretary-general Mattias Grafström have reportedly distanced themselves from the plans. Reports also suggest that Kevin Lamour, FIFA‘s chief operating officer, stated that staff felt “deceived” by the president’s lack of openness.

UEFA has applied significant pressure, voting to boycott the World Cup if Infantino had proceeded with the controversial plans to sell profits through a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Even after Infantino’s change of plans, UEFA expressed a loss of confidence in FIFA’s leadership, potentially paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.

The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer, CONCACAF, also commented that FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.” This tumultuous period raises questions about Infantino’s presidency ahead of elections in March, where he was reportedly aiming for a fourth and final term in office.

According to one report, Infantino had received pledged letters of support for his re-election bid from about 200 of the 211 member federations just weeks ago, marking a reversal of fortunes.

Source: cnn.com