FIFA president Gianni Infantino refused to answer BBC questions about whether he still has the backing of South American confederation Conmebol, as multiple national associations and regional bodies broke ranks over his scrapped plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup. BBC News

Norway has called on Infantino to resign, and the English Football Association sent a letter formally withdrawing its support for the FIFA president in direct response to the stake-sale proposal. BBC Sport BBC Sport The FA's withdrawal carries particular weight given its historical influence within IFAB, the body that sets football's rules, and across FIFA's broader governance structures.

The crisis traces to Infantino's plan to sell commercial rights in FIFA's competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. Think of it as selling a share of football's biggest tournament to outside financiers rather than keeping full control in-house. The proposal was scrapped on July 31 after massive internal pushback. BBC Sport On August 5, Infantino apologised for "errors" he made in the controversial plans but remained FIFA president. BBC Sport That same day, he held a crisis meeting in Morocco where FIFA formally apologised to its member associations for mistakes made over the abandoned proposal. Reuters

The revolt is not confined to Europe. UEFA and CONCACAF, the confederations governing European and North/Central American football respectively, both declared a loss of confidence in Infantino after the plan was withdrawn. Reuters A FIFA adviser resigned, and Asian football bodies opposed the World Cup investor plan as pressure mounted. AP News Reuters reported that battle lines were drawn within FIFA as key figures broke ranks with Infantino following the abandoned sale. Reuters Critics have also questioned Infantino's close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump in the wake of the scrapped plan. Reuters

The stake-sale episode is now compounded by fresh transparency calls directed at FIFA following its retreat from the proposal. Reuters The BBC published its video report questioning Infantino's backing in its Latin America section on August 7, a signal that the scrutiny now extends to regions whose support the president needs to survive. BBC News

The broader context here is one of institutional legitimacy under strain. Infantino's presidency has weathered previous controversies, but the breadth of opposition this time is structurally different. A sitting FIFA adviser resigned, two confederations representing the majority of the global game's governance power declared lost confidence, a founding-member association withdrew support, and a national federation explicitly called for resignation. These are not editorial critics or outside observers. They are constituent members of FIFA's own electoral college, the body that chooses the president.

Whether Infantino can survive this erosion of support depends on the same arithmetic that governs every FIFA presidential contest. The organisation's 211 member associations each hold one vote, meaning a coalition of small or remote federations can outweigh Europe's traditional power. FIFA has stated it intends to expand football development funding to $10 billion, subject to approval by member associations, and intends to invest heavily in the smallest or most remote parts of the footballing world. FIFA That pledge, announced on July 28, now reads against a backdrop in which Infantino is simultaneously apologising for "errors" and facing questions he will not answer about his confederational backing.

The silence itself is telling. When the BBC asked directly whether Conmebol still supports him, Infantino did not respond. BBC News In FIFA's political ecosystem, where confederational endorsements traditionally precede uncontested presidential elections, the refusal to confirm a key bloc's backing is itself a signal. Infantino remains president. He no longer commands the appearance of consensus.