The growing dispute over FIFA’s controversial commercial plans has taken a fresh turn, with football chiefs from three continents reportedly discussing the possibility of organising alternative international tournaments.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani have jointly challenged FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a proposed plan involving the sale of shares linked to FIFA competitions. All three are also FIFA vice-presidents.
In a joint letter, the three senior officials accused Infantino of a breach of trust through what they described as a deceptive process. They have also called for an independent and impartial investigation into the now-abandoned share-sale initiative.
The dispute intensified after FIFA announced its plan concerning commercial interests in the World Cup and other competitions. UEFA’s 55 member associations subsequently held an emergency meeting and unanimously agreed to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, in protest.
Faced with strong opposition, FIFA later withdrew the proposal and Infantino formally apologised. UEFA, however, maintained its position and continued to express serious concerns over the way the plan had been handled.
The situation became more significant when the AFC and CONCACAF backed UEFA’s stance. The three confederations together represent 143 national associations, giving them considerable influence within FIFA’s electoral structure.
According to reports, the football chiefs are considering alternative competitions as a contingency measure if the threat to boycott the World Cup is eventually carried out. The intention would be to ensure that players from countries participating in such a boycott still have opportunities to compete at international level.
Any such tournament remains a long way from becoming reality. Discussions are understood to be at a very early stage, with no final decision on the format, participating teams, schedule or organisation. The three confederations are reportedly keeping a range of options open as they assess how the dispute develops.
The demand for an independent investigation adds another layer to the confrontation. The three FIFA vice-presidents want the abandoned commercial process to be examined independently, particularly amid concerns over how the proposal was developed and presented to football’s governing bodies.
The challenge could also have major implications for Infantino’s political future at FIFA. He is preparing to seek re-election at the FIFA Congress in Morocco next March.
FIFA has 211 member associations, with each country holding one vote in the presidential election. A candidate needs at least 106 votes to secure victory. UEFA controls 55 votes, while the other five confederations collectively account for 156.
That arithmetic makes alliances crucial. UEFA alone cannot determine the outcome of a FIFA presidential election, despite its considerable influence in world football. Any serious attempt to challenge Infantino would therefore require support from other confederations.
The combined membership of UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF stands at 143 associations. If those countries were to act together in the presidential election, they would possess enough votes to prevent Infantino from reaching the required majority. Whether such unity can be maintained, however, remains uncertain, as individual national associations have their own political and sporting interests.
Infantino still has significant support elsewhere. Several senior FIFA executives recently expressed confidence in his leadership at a meeting in Morocco. The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have also backed him.
Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Qatar and Kuwait have separately pledged their support for the FIFA president, according to the report.
Potential candidates for the presidency have until 18 November to submit their nominations. That deadline is likely to be an important marker in determining whether Infantino faces a serious electoral challenge.
For now, the dispute remains centred on FIFA’s commercial decision-making and governance. But with three major confederations openly questioning the president’s leadership and even considering alternative competitions, the confrontation has the potential to become one of the most significant political disputes in world football in recent years.
