FIFA president Gianni Infantino refused to answer a BBC reporter's question about whether South America's football leaders still support him. His silence came as a growing number of national teams and regional football bodies turned against him over a plan he tried, and failed, to push through: selling part of the World Cup to private investors. BBC News

Norway has called on Infantino to resign. The English Football Association, one of the most influential bodies in the sport, sent a formal letter pulling its support for him. BBC Sport BBC Sport

The trouble started with a plan to sell commercial rights to FIFA's competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. In simple terms, that means letting outside financiers buy a share of football's biggest tournament. Infantino scrapped the idea on July 31 after heavy pushback from inside FIFA. BBC Sport On August 5, he said sorry for "errors" in the plan but stayed on as president. BBC Sport That same day, he held a crisis meeting in Morocco where FIFA formally apologised to its member associations. Reuters

The anger is not limited to Europe. UEFA, which runs European football, and CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America, both said they had lost confidence in Infantino. Reuters A FIFA adviser quit. Football bodies in Asia also opposed the plan. AP News Reuters reported that key figures inside FIFA were picking sides against Infantino. Reuters Critics have also questioned Infantino's close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters

After dropping the plan, FIFA is now facing new demands to be more open about how it operates. Reuters The BBC published its report on August 7 in its Latin America section, showing that the scrutiny has reached regions whose support Infantino needs. BBC News

The bigger picture is that FIFA's credibility is under real pressure. Infantino has survived controversies before, but this time the opposition is different. A FIFA adviser resigned. Two regional bodies that together represent most of global football said they had lost confidence. England's FA, one of FIFA's founding members, withdrew support. Norway called for him to step down. These are not journalists or outside critics. They are members of the very group that elects the FIFA president.

So can Infantino survive? It comes down to how FIFA picks its leader. Every one of FIFA's 211 member associations gets one vote, whether it represents a huge country or a tiny island. That means smaller nations can band together and outweigh Europe's traditional power. FIFA has said it wants to expand football development funding to $10 billion, pending approval, and invest heavily in the smallest or most remote football nations. FIFA That promise, made on July 28, now sits next to Infantino's apology for "errors" and the questions he will not answer.

The silence matters. When the BBC asked directly whether Conmebol, the South American confederation, still supports him, Infantino said nothing. BBC News In FIFA's world, regional groups usually back a president before elections happen without a contest. Refusing to confirm a key group's support sends its own message. Infantino is still president. But he no longer looks like he has everyone behind him.