UEFA Loses Trust in FIFA Chief Over Scrapped World Cup Deal

UEFA has declared it has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying "no option should be off the table" as it pursues a full review of his now-abandoned plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.

Infantino scrapped the $20 billion proposal early Saturday after his senior adviser resigned and Asia's football body joined Europe and North America in opposing it. The plan was first reported Tuesday, would have handed 20 percent ownership of FIFA's commercial operations including the World Cup to outside investors would led by a firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner.

UEFA, calling the withdrawal "a victory for the whole game," accused Infantino of failing his 2016 promises of transparency, describing the plan as a "shabby, back room and opaque deal." The European body said those responsible must be held accountable and vowed to work with other confederations to prevent similar schemes.

UEFA's 55 member nations had earlier voted to boycott FIFA competitions over the proposal, joined by North America's CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, calling the plan "a bad deal for football" while FIFA's chief operating officer said staff had been misled about the project.

The backlash has severely damaged Infantino's standing ahead of his bid for a fourth term as FIFA president at the March congress in Morocco, where his re-election had once seemed certain. Analysts say his close ties to US President Donald Trump with the Kushner connection, deepened criticism during the fallout.

Infantino denied discussing the plan with Trump. FIFA has not yet responded to UEFA's statement, though the controversy has left the federation facing its most serious credibility crisis in years.