TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to resign after an abandoned proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup triggered widespread criticism from football officials, former players, and regional confederations, raising fresh uncertainty over his bid for another term in office.
The crisis has prompted Infantino to convene an emergency meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco as he seeks to consolidate support following one of the most turbulent periods of his presidency. The meeting comes months before preparations intensify for FIFA's presidential election in 2027, where Infantino had previously been widely expected to secure another term, according to NBC News.
The controversy stems from a proposal unveiled to FIFA's 211 member associations last week to create a new commercial rights entity and sell a 20 percent stake to private investors, a move aimed at raising approximately US$4.2 billion. The plan immediately sparked fierce opposition across the football world, with critics accusing FIFA of prioritizing commercial interests over the integrity of the sport.
After facing mounting backlash, FIFA withdrew the proposal on Friday. However, the decision has failed to calm criticism, particularly from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which accused Infantino of attempting to "sell the soul of football" and declared it no longer had confidence in his leadership.
The fallout has extended beyond external criticism. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström circulated an internal memo acknowledging the "sad and reproachable series of events" that led to the project's collapse, while emphasizing that FIFA's institutional responsibilities must continue beyond individual leaders.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also reportedly described the proposal as "the project of one person," adding that staff members had been misled about its development.
The internal unrest deepened after Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino's senior advisers and former president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, resigned over the proposal. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who serves as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, also distanced himself from the initiative, saying he had not participated in drafting the proposal and that withdrawing it had become "absolutely necessary."
Former Portugal captain Luís Figo joined the growing chorus of critics, publicly calling for Infantino's resignation.
"Today, I join various figures in the football world in urging Gianni Infantino to resign from his position as FIFA President," Figo wrote on social media, accusing the FIFA chief of damaging the reputation of the organization and acting in his own interests rather than those of football.
The backlash has also spread among national football associations.
Several European federations, including Wales, Sweden, Serbia, and reportedly England, have withdrawn or are preparing to withdraw support for Infantino's 2027 re-election bid. UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister described the situation as a leadership crisis, saying recent events had created significant unrest within international football governance.
Despite the growing criticism, Infantino continues to retain support from several national associations outside Europe, particularly in Africa and Asia, where many federations benefit from FIFA development funding.
Football associations from Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines have either reaffirmed or maintained support for Infantino, although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to issue an official collective position.
The Philippine Football Federation said it continues to support Infantino's broader objective of increasing commercial revenue that could ultimately provide greater financial assistance to smaller member associations.
Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports reported that Infantino has also come under scrutiny over allegations that he privately suggested Morocco could host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final if the country publicly backed his re-election campaign.
Morocco is one of three co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
FIFA has strongly denied the report, calling it inaccurate. The Moroccan Football Federation has not publicly commented on the allegation.
Following Wednesday's emergency meeting in Morocco, FIFA issued a statement describing discussions as "constructive and positive" and said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of the FIFA Management Board present had reaffirmed their support for Gianni Infantino.
The governing body also acknowledged mistakes had been made during the handling of the commercial rights proposal but warned against continued attacks on FIFA's leadership, arguing that the organization must move forward after abandoning the project.
The controversy nevertheless leaves Infantino entering the run-up to the 2027 election under unprecedented pressure.
Although no formal challenger has yet emerged, analysts say the failed commercial rights proposal has weakened what had appeared to be a comfortable path toward another term, exposing divisions within FIFA and prompting renewed debate over governance, transparency, and the future direction of world football.
Read: Luis Figo Urges FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Step Down
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