UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC have expressed serious concerns regarding FIFA President Gianni Infantino's recent proposal to sell an interest in the World Cup, labeling it a “fundamental breach of trust.” This sentiment was articulated in an open letter addressed to the global football community, which was made public on Monday.

Concerns Over Leadership and Trust

The governing bodies of European, North American, Central American, Caribbean, and Asian football criticized Infantino's actions, stating that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.” The letter was co-signed by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, along with three general secretaries.

The letter emphasized that football is a collective passion that belongs to players, fans, clubs, and member associations, rather than any single individual or institution. “It is in that spirit, as confederations representing its members, that we speak collectively today,” it stated.

Reactions to Infantino's Proposal

Infantino is facing backlash following his unsuccessful attempt to attract private equity investors to buy stakes in the World Cup. The letter criticized his approach, stating, “It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him.” The authors of the letter argued that such behavior is not what football deserves from its leaders, prompting their united stance out of a sense of duty to the sport.

UEFA has previously hinted at a potential boycott of the World Cup and other FIFA events, despite FIFA's subsequent apology for the failed proposal. Additionally, Norway’s soccer federation has called for Infantino’s resignation, while the English Football Association has withdrawn its support for his re-election scheduled for March.

FIFA's Response and Criticism

In response to the backlash, FIFA acknowledged its mistakes regarding the failed plan and stated that senior staff at a crisis meeting in Morocco reaffirmed their support for Infantino. However, the nature of this meeting has also drawn criticism, as the open letter pointed out that only one elected official attended, with no FIFA Council members or Member Associations invited.

The letter concluded with a call for unity within the football community, stating, “Football’s strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now,” emphasizing the need for leadership that serves the game rather than seeks to dominate it.