Gianni Infantino faces calls to resign over FIFA rights deal

Top football officials from Europe, North America and Asia have accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” in a joint open letter that escalates pressure on him to resign.

The letter, signed by the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, says the recent controversy over FIFA’s plan to create a commercial company called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) is really about honesty in leadership. FFE would have sold a 21% stake in FIFA’s commercial and ticketing rights—including World Cups—to a private investor, but was scrapped after widespread criticism led by UEFA, which had threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions.

The letter does not name Infantino directly, but sources told BBC Sport it should be seen as a chance for him to step down with dignity. FIFA fired back on Saturday night, calling the criticism a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine both the organization and its president. The confederations now want an independent review before FIFA’s next council meeting in October.

The row follows months of tension over Infantino’s control of FIFA’s finances and governance. Norway has already called for his resignation, while leaders in Mexico and South America have publicly backed him. The dispute also risks delaying decisions on future tournaments and sponsorship deals at a time when global football faces scrutiny over ethics and transparency.