Infantino in the turmoil: UEFA, FA, and confederations oppose FIFA's plan for private investment.

UEFA isn't the only one challenging FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to create a company to raise private investment to finance, at least officially, the development of world football. The proposal is also facing growing criticism from major international football organizations, citing the lack of prior consultation and the risk of altering the balance of football's governance.

UEFA's 55 member associations will meet at an extraordinary summit later this week, the BBC reports, while rumours are emerging that at least two of FIFA's eight vice-presidents were not consulted before the draft was presented.

The English FA: “Completely in the dark”

Among the most vocal is that of the English Football Association (FA), which said it was “deeply concerned” by the prospect of selling shares in the main competitions organised by FIFA.

A spokeswoman for the British Football Federation explained that the FA had not been informed of the initiative and did not know the details of the operation.

“We were completely unaware of this proposal and do not have any material details, including the actual content of the proposal and the conditions associated with it.”

Concacaf and AFC: criticism of the method

Concacaf, the confederation that brings together the federations of North and Central America and the Caribbean, also expressed strong opposition, lamenting the lack of a proper decision-making process.

In an official statement, the organization said it was “deeply concerned about the lack of due process.”

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) shared the same sentiment, expressing disappointment that such a significant issue had become public before being discussed within the relevant bodies.

The fear: World Cups becoming more frequent

The criticism isn't just a question of method. The continental confederations fear that FIFA's strategy aims to increase the commercial value of its competitions through an increasingly packed calendar of World Cups for national teams and Club World Cups for both men and women.

This prospect could reduce the economic and media weight of tournaments organized by the confederations themselves, such as the Champions League, the European Championships, and the Copa America, creating direct competition on the commercial and television levels.

The economic promise remains

Infantino, however, reassured the federations on the financial front. In a letter to the confederations, the FIFA president confirmed that, even if the project were rejected, the commitment to allocate $10 million to each member over the next four years would remain in place.

The game, however, appears far from over. The growing dissent suggests weeks of intense tension at the top of world football, with the project set to become one of the most divisive issues of the current Infantino administration.