Fifa criticises campaign to oust president Infantino

What the report says

Fifa has issued a sharp defence of president Gianni Infantino after recent criticism from European football bodies and reports in the Daily Telegraph that the organization said contained false or unproven claims. In a statement reported by BBC Sport Football, Fifa described what it sees as a coordinated effort to weaken both the governing body and its president, and said speculation should not be treated as fact.

The dispute comes amid wider unease over Infantino’s aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have created a new company to handle commercial and ticketing rights, with a private investment group taking a 21% stake. Uefa has said it has lost confidence in him, and the Norwegian Football Federation’s president, Lise Klaveness, has called for him to step down. Uefa has also said the possibility of a boycott of Fifa events is still being considered because some conditions have not been met.

Fifa said Infantino was elected by its member associations and continues to hold that mandate. It argued that those without enough support should not try to achieve change through allegations or misinformation instead of the organization’s voting process. The comments underline a growing split between many European federations and other parts of the global game.

Support for Infantino has also emerged from outside Europe, with Mexico’s federation backing him and South America’s Conmebol and Africa’s Caf previously expressing support. The row matters because it touches on the balance of power in world football and on how Fifa is governed, especially as pressure mounts over transparency and reform.