The head of Europe's professional football leagues has suggested FIFA President Gianni Infantino's position is untenable following widespread backlash to his plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.
Claudius Schaefer, chief executive of the Swiss Football League and head of an organisation representing 53 European professional football leagues, stated that FIFA President Gianni Infantino's leadership has become questionable following his abandoned plan to monetise World Cup commercial rights. Speaking to Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung, Schaefer indicated there could be "only one consequence" for Infantino after regional football associations strongly opposed the proposal.
Schaefer criticised the decision-making process, noting that key FIFA bodies, including the FIFA Council itself, were not informed about the plan before it was pursued. He described the proposal as fundamentally driven by financial motives at the expense of other considerations, stating that maximising profits for third parties appeared to be the primary objective. According to Schaefer, the plan would have resulted in additional matches on an already congested international calendar, potentially damaging national championship competitions.
Infantino announced on Friday that FIFA had abandoned the proposal after encountering substantial opposition. The development prompted major regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF to issue statements on Saturday expressing lost confidence in Infantino's leadership. Schaefer's comments reflect growing institutional concern about the governance processes surrounding the FIFA presidency and the handling of major strategic decisions affecting global football.
