European Leagues Chief Doubts Infantino's Future

Claudius Schaefer, president of European Leagues, described Gianni Infantino's continued tenure as head of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) as highly unsustainable, following the failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights.

Schaefer, whose organization represents 53 professional men's and women's soccer leagues, told the Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung that, given how the proposal had been pushed through, there would be only one possible consequence in a normal company or organization. Asked whether this meant Infantino was unfit to serve as FIFA president, he replied that this was precisely the consequence when someone pushed through such a deal without the knowledge of others.

Infantino announced on Friday that FIFA had backed away from the proposal following widespread criticism. Both UEFA and CONCACAF subsequently declared that they had lost confidence in his leadership.

Schaefer also criticized the proposal, saying its primary goal had been to increase profits for third parties by expanding the number and scope of competitions, a change he said would have further burdened the already overcrowded international calendar at the expense of domestic leagues. He added that even the FIFA Council had been unaware of the plan and that Infantino had acted on his own in the matter.

(Reuters, bak)