Infantino Faces Mounting Pressure as FIFA Crisis Deepens

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure after FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström described the abandoned World Cup sell-off plans as a "sad and reproachable series of events" in an internal email to staff, Jamie Braidwood reported for The Independent.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces growing criticism of his leadership. [Photo: Doha Stadium Plus Qatar]

Grafström, one of FIFA's top executives, did not mention Infantino by name but wrote that while the turmoil surrounding FIFA was "difficult to comprehend and accept ... individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go."

The email, first reported by Sky News, came after Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, said Infantino's decision to abandon the proposed sell-off plan was "absolutely necessary and beyond question."

The former Arsenal manager said he had no prior knowledge of the proposal before reports emerged that FIFA had considered selling stakes in its competitions to private investors.

Wenger added that FIFA must serve the sport with "commitment, transparency, and integrity."

Infantino's leadership has come under increasing scrutiny after UEFA issued a vote of no confidence, followed by statements from several member associations withdrawing their support for the FIFA president.

England's Football Association was reportedly expected to join the Football Association of Wales in publicly opposing Infantino, while UEFA's stance was backed by football confederations in Asia and Concacaf.