Fifa has criticized the campaign to oust its president, Gianni Infantino, calling scrutiny a ‘licence to distort facts,’ according to a statement from the organization, as the remarks came as pressure mounts on Infantino following a decision to scrap investment plans that have drawn sharp criticism from major football governing bodies.

Leadership under Scrutiny

The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) joined Uefa in calling for a ‘full review’ of Infantino’s leadership. Concacaf’s statement, while not naming Infantino directly, condemned what it described as ‘a recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership.’ The governing body added that ‘accountability cannot be optional’ and that the football family was ‘entitled to ask how such a proposal was allowed to proceed and who bears responsibility for it.’

Uefa, the first major body to respond, accused Infantino of failing to deliver on past promises of transparency. In a 2016 speech, Infantino had said, ‘The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president.’ Uefa’s statement said the current leadership ‘has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.’

Legal and Institutional Challenges

A criminal law expert, Markus Pieth, outlined in an interview with Tagesspiegel how UEFA could legally challenge or even remove Infantino. He explained that FIFA, as an institutional association, allows members to vote, remove officials, or take legal action. However, Pieth noted that ‘the Ethics Committee exists only in name’ and that ‘there is no independence at FIFA—and, in line with that, no oversight.’

Pieth attributed the lack of action against Infantino to what he called the ‘Infantino system,’ a power structure that echoes and, in some ways, exceeds the former president Joseph Blatter’s approach. ‘He thinks the only one above him is God,’ Pieth said, adding that Infantino is considered ‘untouchable’ within the organization. Pieth also suggested that UEFA could take a ‘hard line’ against FIFA under antitrust law.

Potential for Severe Consequences

Pieth warned that UEFA could, in theory, withdraw from FIFA and establish its own European soccer championship, using the continent’s dominance in the sport. ‘Europe is the most powerful continent in soccer,’ he said, pointing to the ongoing World Cup in North America as evidence. While such a move would leave many countries out, Pieth argued that ‘nothing works without Europe’ and that federations should ‘use that power.’

Infantino is seeking re-election for a fourth term at the Fifa Congress in March, with his position now under intense pressure. The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the football community, with critics arguing that the leadership has failed to uphold transparency and accountability. According to multiple sources, the backlash reflects a broader loss of confidence in Fifa’s governance under Infantino’s tenure.