UEFA says it has lost confidence in Infantino as FIFA faces calls for

UEFA said Saturday, Aug. 1, it has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino after FIFA abandoned plans to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup. UEFA linked the reversal to backlash from regional confederations against a proposal that would have raised up to $4.2 billion by selling roughly a 20% share to private investors in a new unit to run FIFA events, including the World Cup. UEFA had rejected the plan unanimously earlier in the week with its 55 member associations and called FIFA’s retreat a “victory for the whole game,” while warning rebuilding trust has just begun. In its statement, UEFA said FIFA leadership lost confidence not only from UEFA but from many members of the “football family,” accusing Infantino of a lack of transparency. FIFA and Infantino did not comment.