Trust in Gianni Infantino has been “badly shaken”, the vice president of Uefa has said after the Fifa chief bowed to pressure and scrapped a plan to sell off shares in the World Cup.
Mr Infantino backtracked after a backlash over the investment plan, which was rejected by three continental confederations, with Uefa warning its nations would boycott Fifia events if it went ahead.
The plan would have seen stakes sold in a company which would run the commercial and operational aspects of competitions including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Mr Infantino said early on Saturday that “this proposal will not proceed” after it became clear the project had “created divisions”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had called the plans “outrageous”, and said bringing them forward made it clear that Mr Infantino was “the wrong man to lead the organisation”.
The plan also prompted high-level opposition to the plan within Fifa, with the resignation of Mr Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, describing it in a statement as “a project of one person”.
It is not clear whether Mr Infantino’s U-turn would alleviate pressure over his position, with Uefa vice president Laura McAllister saying Uefa would be “considering options” now.
She stopped short of saying the Fifa president should resign over the matter.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s not for me to speak for for Uefa at this moment in time, but I think trust in the president of Fifa has been badly shaken this week, without a doubt, and I think quite rightly, people will ask questions about whether he is the leader to take us forward as a global football organisation.
“Because we have to stick to the ethical principles of sustainability, fair play, and accessibility to football that really motivate us all. So I think those are the questions that all of us involved in football will be asking now.”
Asked if she could envision circumstances in which Uefa might find a challenger to him to stand against him, she said: “I think all of the confederations would be considering options now for sure, and we’ll certainly be doing that in Uefa.
“But you know, it’s a democratic election. If people want to stand, they will, and there will be moves, I’m sure, to encourage people to stand. But I think it’s early days yet.”
She later added: “Interestingly, I don’t think the sport of football is damaged by what’s happened this week. I think Fifa as an organisation, is, and I think the president is.”
Mr Infantino said in his statement: “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”
