UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have accused FIFA of a “fundamental breach of trust” and “deception” over its handling of a proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup.
In a joint “open letter to the football family” released on Monday, the three confederations criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino, describing the process as a “profound failure of judgment” and questioning his approach to leadership.
The confederations said the controversy goes beyond procedural concerns, arguing that it raises serious questions about the integrity and governance of world football.
“This is about something more fundamental: the integrity of the game, and the integrity of those elected to lead it,” the statement, signed by the heads of UEFA, Concacaf and AFC, said.
They stressed that football leadership should be regarded as a responsibility to the wider football community rather than a means of exercising personal power.
“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned,” the statement added.
The three confederations have also reportedly held preliminary discussions about organising their own competitions amid the growing tensions surrounding Infantino. UEFA has previously threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while talks with Concacaf and AFC are understood to be aimed at ensuring players within their jurisdictions continue to have meaningful opportunities to compete.
UEFA governs football in Europe, Concacaf oversees the sport across North and Central America and the Caribbean, while AFC is responsible for football in Asia.
Infantino recently apologised over plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company proposed to manage the commercial and operational aspects of FIFA tournaments, including a proposal to sell about 20 per cent of the company to private investors.
However, the three confederations are calling for an independent investigation into the proposal, arguing that FIFA itself should not be responsible for reviewing the controversy.
They criticised the plan for being advanced on a tight timeline and without sufficient consultation with member associations, saying the process appeared designed to limit scrutiny.
The confederations also argued that FIFA had failed to acknowledge that attempting to sell an interest in the World Cup represented a serious error in judgment and a breach of trust with the organisations it is meant to serve.
They further rejected plans for FIFA’s administration to prepare its own report for the FIFA Council, insisting that any investigation should be conducted by a completely independent third party with no involvement from FIFA officials, staff or other football stakeholders.
“There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness,” the confederations said, adding that football deserves leadership that serves the sport rather than seeks to control it.
The three bodies said they had taken their position collectively and in what they described as a commitment to protecting the unity and integrity of the global game.
