Infantino to stand again as UEFA drops boycott and files criminal case
UEFA has dropped its boycott threat but is pursuing criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who confirms he will stand for re-election.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
European football's governing body, UEFA, has formally withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, but the truce is fragile. The decision clears the way for England and other European teams to take part in the Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland, which starts next week. UEFA had threatened the boycott after FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup to private investors was revealed and then abandoned.
Sky News understands that UEFA received assurances from FIFA that it would not attempt to "disfigure the game" again in the same way. However, the peace is only partial. UEFA has now filed court documents in the United States demanding access to evidence and communications relating to the failed sell-off plan, which involved Thrive Capital, the investment firm run by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. UEFA's lawyers say they are preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement, alleging the plan was structured in secret, undervalued, and promoted for Infantino's own benefit.
Infantino, who has been under intense pressure from European, Asian, and North American confederations, has confirmed he will stand for re-election in March. He has been tracked down by Sky News in the Dominican Republic and Poland, where he dodged questions about his future, saying only that there would be a "right place and right time" to speak. He has also received qualified support from the Saudi Arabian federation, but UEFA and other bodies remain determined to find a candidate to challenge him.
The legal escalation marks a new phase in the battle for control of world football. UEFA's president, Aleksander Ceferin, has ruled himself out as a candidate, but says Infantino will either step down or face opposition. The deadline for presidential nominations is in November, and no clear anti-Infantino candidate has yet emerged. Despite the boycott being lifted, the campaign to oust Infantino is far from over.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |  |  | Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by a few · 2–4 channels | ||||||
| UEFA still opposes Infantino's leadership and may pursue legal action. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | ||||
| UEFA alleges the sale price was fraudulently off-market and promoted for Infantino's own benefit. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | ||
| UEFA is set to lift its boycott of FIFA competitions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |||
| UEFA subpoenaed FIFA in the US to obtain evidence. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |||
| FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association approximately £235,000 for the Falklands banner and other conduct violations. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | ||
| Infantino avoided answering questions and made a joke about a reporter's hair. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Sky News The Wrap With Gillian JosephReported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino confirmed he will stand for re-election in March. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | ||
| Trump's support for FIFA president Infantino has gone quiet. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Sky News The Wrap With Gillian JosephReported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Infantino, citing his love for UEFA and higher credibility. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions including the World Cup. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | ||
| Only on one channel | ||||||
| Argentina's next home match will be played with a 50% stadium capacity limit. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Carlos Cordero quit as senior advisor to Infantino, saying it was a bad deal for football. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Ceferin predicted Infantino will step down or face a challenger at the March election. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Ceferin said the FIFA plan to sell competitions is worse than the Super League plan. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Ceferin stated that 75% of FIFA's revenue comes from Europe. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| England's under-20 women's team will be able to play in the World Cup in Poland. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| FIFA officials could face prison sentences if found guilty of financial mismanagement. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph |
| Infantino apologised for the process of selling off part of the World Cup, but not the concept. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino arrived in the Dominican Republic by private jet from Doha. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino has not explained his plans to invite private money into football. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph |
| Infantino is engaging in shuttle diplomacy to secure a fourth term as FIFA president. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino lost the support of the confederations in Europe, Asia and North America. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino met with President Macron and Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman in Paris. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph |
| Infantino received qualified support from the Saudi Arabia federation. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph |
| Infantino says he is happy with the support he is getting from inside FIFA. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Infantino was asked not to attend a youth tournament in the Dominican Republic. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Leandro Paredes received a 10-match international ban and a £66,000 fine for his role in the World Cup final brawl. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| No rival candidate has yet emerged for the FIFA presidential election. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Six Nordic football associations have lost confidence over Infantino's decision-making. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| Supporters groups worldwide have petitioned for Infantino's resignation, accusing him of making a mockery of football. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| The abandoned World Cup stake sale plan was valued at $20 billion with $4.2 billion from private investors. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| The investment plan involved Joshua Kushner. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA alleges criminal mismanagement in the formulation of the FIFA Forward enterprise proposal. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA brought a case related to the matter. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA has threatened criminal proceedings in Switzerland and has gone to courts in the US. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
| UEFA's 55 member associations want a candidate to stand against Infantino in the March election. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News The Wrap With Gillian Joseph | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV focused on the legal escalation and Infantino's confirmation that he will stand again. It highlighted the criminal proceedings and the filing of court documents in the US, framing it as a dramatic twist in the ongoing row.
- “UEFA is preparing to take criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his failed plan to sell off the world cup to private investors.”
- “The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has confirmed he will stand for re-election in March.”
- “Today they came roaring back, filing court documents to bring criminal proceedings against him in Switzerland over his secret sell-off plan.”
Sky News provided the most extensive coverage, including tracking down Infantino in the Dominican Republic and Poland, and securing interviews with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani. Their tone was confrontational, emphasising Infantino's evasion and the growing opposition from confederations.
- “Why won't you resign?”
- “See you at the hairdresser, he said. He likes a baldy gag.”
- “UEFA is preparing to bring criminal proceedings against the FIFA president Gianni Infantino for his attempt to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.”
BBC News focused on the dual developments: UEFA dropping the boycott threat and then preparing criminal legal claims. It provided analysis from its sports editor, Dan Roan, on the significance of the escalation.
- “European football's governing body, UEFA, is preparing to bring criminal legal claims against the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, in connection with his now abandoned plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.”
- “Infantino's not yet responded.”
BBC One West reported the dropping of the boycott threat and the subsequent legal action, with a focus on the implications for England's participation in the Women's Under-20 World Cup.
- “European football's governing body UEFA is set to drop its threat of boycotting FIFA competitions.”
- “UEFA is preparing legal action against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino in connection with his now Abandoned plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup.”
5 News gave a brief update, focusing on Infantino's decision to stand for re-election despite the criticism, and the global backlash to his scrapped plan.
- “Gianni Infantino is set to stand for re-election as FIFA president in March.”
- “It comes despite widespread criticism of his now-scrap plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.