Three major football confederations, the AFC, CONCACAF, and UEFA, have collectively addressed the football community through an open letter. The letter asserts that football is a shared passion belonging to players, fans, clubs, and member associations, rather than any single individual or institution. This joint statement follows previous criticism directed at FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The confederations highlighted that the growth of football over the past decade has been a collaborative effort involving FIFA, the confederations, and member associations. They cited achievements such as expanded tournaments and the awarding of the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups as results of collective agreement and delivery. The letter also emphasized that the concerns raised are not about financial distribution or member associations losing support, nor are they about revisiting previously made decisions regarding competition expansion or World Cup allocations.
Concerns over leadership and integrity
The core issue, according to the letter, revolves around the integrity of the game and its leadership. The confederations stated that leadership in football is a duty of service, not a possession or a means to demand power. They argued that trust is broken when deception occurs, or when an individual prioritizes personal authority over the collective.
A recent letter from FIFA to its Vice-Presidents and 211 Member Associations acknowledged process mistakes, which the confederations view as a failure of judgment rather than just communication. They criticized a proposal that was advanced rapidly without sufficient consultation, suggesting it was designed to limit scrutiny. The confederations also noted FIFA’s failure to recognize that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a significant breach of trust, not merely a procedural error.
Call for independent review
The joint letter also addressed FIFA’s commitment to present a report on these events to the FIFA Council. The AFC, CONCACAF, and UEFA argued that proper governance would necessitate an independent third-party review, rather than one conducted by FIFA itself, its staff, or any internal stakeholder. They stressed that the FIFA administration should not be involved in such a review.
Concerns were further reinforced by a recent meeting in Morocco, where only one elected official was reportedly present, alongside a select number of FIFA management committee members. The confederations highlighted this as a continuation of a pattern of conduct that suggests a leader who believes the game is answerable to him, rather than acting as a custodian. The letter concluded by calling for unity and leadership that serves football, rather than seeking to command it.
Confederations’ stance and wider reactions
The joint letter was signed by Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC President), Victor Montagliani (Concacaf President), Aleksander Äeferin (UEFA President), Datuk Seri Windsor John (AFC General Secretary), Philippe Moggio (Concacaf General Secretary), and Theodore Theodoridis (UEFA General Secretary). This collective action underscores a unified stance from these confederations.
This criticism follows the withdrawal of a plan by Gianni Infantino to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. While some member associations, including Africa’s confederation CAF and several South American countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia, have publicly supported Infantino, the joint letter indicates that his critics remain firm. Reports suggest that almost 70 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have publicly committed to voting for Infantino, while others have either retracted support or stated they will not vote for him.
Source: uefa.com
