Gianni Infantino is simultaneously fighting off a European revolt and counting new allies, after a plan to sell a stake in FIFA's competitions — including the World Cup — was scrapped under massive pressure.

The proposal, which would have handed private investors a share of football's biggest tournaments, drew an immediate and ferocious response from UEFA. Europe's governing body and all 55 of its member nations voted unanimously to boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was withdrawn, calling it "unequivocally" rejected in a statement published on 30 July (UEFA). A day later, FIFA pulled the plug, and UEFA welcomed the reversal in a follow-up statement (UEFA).

But UEFA's anger has not cooled with the withdrawal. European football's leaders are now weighing multiple routes to unseat Infantino before the presidential election next March. They want to force an emergency meeting of the FIFA Council — the body that runs the game's day-to-day governance — which would require the backing of 19 of its 36 members. They have also kept open the option of a formal vote of no confidence through an extraordinary congress, though that would need a simple majority of FIFA's 211 member associations: 106 votes (BBC Sport).

A third route is to find a single challenger to stand against Infantino at the ballot box. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani — the head of football's governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean — is the favourite to be that unity candidate (BBC Sport). UEFA is also reportedly prepared to carry out its threat of a full boycott of Infantino, described internally as the "nuclear option."

Infantino, though, is not without support. Conmebol, the South American confederation, said on Thursday it would not back any action that bypasses FIFA's formal mechanisms before the election (BBC Sport). Concacaf issued its own public statement after the attempt to remove Infantino was aborted, though it stopped short of saying it had lost confidence in him (BBC Sport). The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its backing for the FIFA president (Sky News), while Jordan remains one of the few countries to have publicly stated it will not vote for his re-election (BBC Sport).

Perhaps the warmest words came from Lamin Kaba Bajo, president of the Gambia Football Federation, who praised Infantino's "courage" and offered his support "more than ever" (BBC Sport).

Money may yet play a decisive role. FIFA was due to announce new funding to member associations by the end of the year — cash Infantino could leverage to shore up support ahead of the March vote (BBC Sport).

For fans, the immediate danger has passed. The World Cup will not be partly owned by a private equity firm, and European teams will not be pulling out of FIFA tournaments. What remains is a power struggle at the top of the global game, with the battle lines drawn between a European establishment that wants change and a FIFA president who still commands loyalty across large parts of the football world.