European football governing body UEFA has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of an abuse of power and announced it will seek an alternative candidate for the FIFA presidential election in March 2027.
The announcement followed a meeting of European football executives in Monaco during the draws for the 2026/27 UEFA club competitions, where officials gathered to discuss an ongoing crisis within world football's governing body.
Tensions between UEFA and FIFA escalated after details emerged of a proposal by Infantino to sell a financial stake in the FIFA World Cup to private external investors. Although Infantino subsequently withdrew the plan, European leaders stated that the initiative damaged trust in his leadership beyond repair.
UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, represents 55 national governing bodies across Europe and organizes major continental tournaments such as the Champions League. FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football based in Zurich, oversees global football and organizes the World Cup. Infantino has served as FIFA president since 2016.
Demands for independent audit and structural reform
European representatives on the UEFA Executive Committee and European members of the FIFA Council met alongside national association presidents in Monaco to review the aftermath of the investment proposal. Those present gave a unanimous mandate to the UEFA president and administration to use every available institutional, political, and legal means to pursue fundamental reform at FIFA.
In a formal statement, UEFA said Infantino's attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup to external investors revealed a deep failure of judgment, an abuse of presidential power, and an approach to leadership incompatible with the highest office in world football. The organization declared that proper limits must be restored to presidential authority to ensure FIFA is governed as an institution rather than around one person.
As an immediate first step, UEFA called for a genuinely independent external audit of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a development scheme. UEFA specified that auditors must be granted complete access to all relevant documents, communications, and decision-making records, arguing that FIFA cannot investigate itself and expect the football community to accept its conclusions.
The European governing body added that the trust required to hold the office of FIFA president had been broken and could not be restored by withdrawing a proposal, giving assurances, or making promises of retroactive reform.
Challenge in the 2027 FIFA presidential election
UEFA confirmed that it will continue working with partner confederations, national associations, and stakeholders across the sport, including fans, players, clubs, and leagues, to shape the future governance of FIFA.
If Infantino decides to seek a new term, UEFA stated it will join forces with other confederations to ensure national associations are offered a credible alternative candidate committed to integrity, accountability, development, and genuine institutional change.
FIFA presidential elections take place every four years, with each of FIFA's member national associations casting one vote. Regional confederations representing Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, North and Central America, and Oceania form the core voting groups that determine the organization's leadership.
Controversy over FIFA reserves and development funds
UEFA questioned why the FIFA president believed external investors were needed to boost development funding when FIFA currently holds billions of dollars in financial reserves. UEFA emphasized that these funds belong to the national associations.
Working alongside other confederations, UEFA announced it will examine a responsible release of part of FIFA's reserves directly to national associations while ensuring any proposal preserves FIFA's financial stability.
UEFA stressed that development is an institutional obligation rather than a presidential favor. The organization stated that no national association should ever be forced to choose between receiving the resources to which it is entitled and exercising its freedom of judgment.
Development resources must never become tools of personal or political influence, UEFA warned, insisting that financial distribution must be protected by transparent and objective rules. The governing body added that FIFA competitions, from the World Cup to youth tournaments, are not for sale, and neither is football governance.
Provisional suspension of tournament boycott
European representatives were informed that FIFA has now confirmed in writing to UEFA that the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme has been irrevocably and permanently withdrawn and will not reappear in any other form, structure, name, or manner.
Having secured the two specific assurances it demanded from FIFA on July 30, and following consultations with member associations, UEFA agreed on a provisional basis to suspend the withdrawal of European teams from FIFA competitions next season.
The decision temporarily lifts the threat of a European boycott of upcoming tournaments, including the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. However, UEFA cautioned that its position remains under continuous review and could be revised immediately if circumstances change.
UEFA concluded that the abandonment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme does not erase the deception, intimidation, and abuse of power that enabled the initiative, reiterating that FIFA must return to operating as an institution that serves football rather than an instrument of individual power.
