FIFA President Backs Down, Will Al-Khelaifi Replace Him? The Drama Behind the Scenes

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was forced to cancel a plan to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors, following outrage at UEFA and threats of a boycott. UEFA made clear that Infantino has lost their trust and they are looking for an alternative candidate, with the prominent name being Nasser Al-Khelaifi, but he made clear he is not interested in the role.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was forced to back down and announce the cancellation of a controversial plan to sell part of the World Cup rights and the organization's commercial activities to private investors. The move sparked unprecedented anger, with UEFA at the forefront of the opposition. The announcement was supposed to be made on the evening of the World Cup final at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, but Infantino was forced to postpone it, and the news leaked, leading to threats of a boycott and a complete retreat by FIFA. UEFA made clear that the retreat is not enough, and that Infantino has "lost the trust" of many members of the international football family. They accused him of violating the transparency promises on which he was elected in 2016, and called the move "an opaque venture concocted behind the scenes." Following the crisis, reports in Europe indicate a planned move by UEFA to find a candidate to challenge Infantino. The prominent name is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and the European Club Association, seen as a strong and acceptable figure. However, his representatives made clear he has no intention to run, forcing UEFA to consider other names.