UEFA vice president Laura McAllister has confirmed that the European governing body is "considering options" regarding its future relationship with FIFA following a significant leadership crisis. The comments follow FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s decision to abandon a controversial proposal to sell off shares in the World Cup, a move that had been rejected by three continental confederations and faced fierce criticism from member nations.
The abandoned scheme aimed to sell stakes in a new company tasked with overseeing commercial and operational aspects of major tournaments, including both the men’s and women’s World Cups. The proposal triggered internal turmoil, resulting in the resignations of senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, the latter of whom described the initiative as "a project of one person."
Reflecting on the fallout, McAllister stated that trust in the FIFA president has been "badly shaken." While she did not explicitly call for his resignation, she noted that the football community is questioning whether Infantino remains the appropriate leader to guide the global organization. "I think all of the confederations would be considering options now for sure, and we’ll certainly be doing that in Uefa," she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She added that while the sport of football itself remains undamaged, the reputation of FIFA and its president has suffered.
Infantino, who previously faced harsh criticism from figures such as Prime Minister Andy Burnham—who labeled the plans "outrageous"—admitted early on Saturday that the project had created unnecessary divisions. In a statement, Infantino said, "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place." He stated his intent to reconcile with interested parties to focus on growing the game, particularly in regions requiring support.
Despite the U-turn, the long-term impact on Infantino’s presidency remains uncertain. McAllister emphasized that while it is early days, the focus must remain on the ethical principles of sustainability, fair play, and accessibility that drive the football community.
“Because we have to stick to the ethical principles of sustainability, fair play, and accessibility to football that really motivate us all. So I think those are the questions that all of us involved in football will be asking now.”
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”
