English FA and Dutch KNVB demand FIFA governance overhaul after Infantino's private investor plan collapses

Plan abandoned under pressure

Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that FIFA was withdrawing a proposal to create a commercial entity that would sell private stakes in future World Cup tournaments. The plan had drawn fierce opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, as well as from fans and national associations worldwide. Infantino said in a press release that after listening carefully to all opinions, it had become clear the project could not proceed.

UEFA's sharp rebuke

UEFA welcomed the decision but issued a scathing statement on Saturday, saying trust in FIFA's leadership had been seriously shaken. The European body accused Infantino of breaking the promises he made when seeking election in 2016.

We can no longer tolerate such secret plots, carried out at a dizzying pace, devised by anonymous individuals and whose benefits for the game are more than doubtful. It is imperative that those responsible are identified and held accountable.

UEFA also recalled Infantino's own words from 2016: "FIFA's money belongs to you. It does not belong to the FIFA president. And FIFA's money must serve the development of football and nothing else." The statement concluded that he had kept none of those promises and that the work of rebuilding trust in FIFA was only beginning. "It is a victory for all football. But the story must not stop here," UEFA added.

FA and KNVB demand reform

The English Football Association (FA) and the Dutch KNVB followed with their own demands for a complete governance overhaul. The FA said it fully supported UEFA's position and called for a thorough review to ensure transparency for all 211 member nations.

We fully support UEFA's position. It is time for a complete and thorough review of FIFA's leadership and governance to ensure that global football is run transparently, in the best interest of the 211 member nations and with the long-term management of football at the centre of its concerns.

The KNVB went further, stating that the withdrawal did not resolve the issue and that the process had caused a fundamental collapse of trust in Infantino personally.

The withdrawal of the proposal does not solve the problem for KNVB. The way this process has been conducted has led to a fundamental collapse of trust in FIFA president Gianni Infantino. KNVB no longer has confidence in his leadership.

Resignation and internal dissent

The controversy also triggered a high-profile resignation. Carlos Cordeiro, a special adviser to Infantino and a member of the White House working group for the 2026 World Cup, stepped down on Friday in protest. Meanwhile, FIFA's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, quoted by the BBC, said the administration had been "misled" about the project.

Infantino's support and possible successors

Despite the backlash, former FIFA officials believe Infantino still commands enough support among member federations to secure another term. David Bernstein, former FA chairman, noted that in a normal organisation a leader in such a situation would be replaced, but FIFA operates differently. Jim Boyce, a former FIFA vice-president, said Infantino likely has the votes for a new four-year mandate, though the situation could shift if the crisis deepens.

Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and has been re-elected twice unopposed. If he were to leave, potential successors include Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president and former head of the Canadian federation; Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC president who was Infantino's main rival in 2016; and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain.