FIFA president Gianni Infantino probably hoped things would return to business as usual after shelving his much-criticized plan to allow private investment in the World Cup — it has been quite the reverse.

The 56-year-old Swiss lawyer’s future hangs in the balance, after having previously looked assured with him a shoo-in to be reelected unopposed for a fourth and final term next March. 

AFP Sport highlights the pick of the reaction since Infantino’s humiliating climbdown last Saturday:

The FIFA president:

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
— Infantino

---

The critics:

“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

— UEFA welcomed the withdrawal but in a letter sent last Friday by its lawyer in the US said it was considering legal action.

“The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.”

— UEFA does not mince its words in its appraisal of the plan and adds it contradicts exactly what Infantino promised back in 2016 when he first sought election — transparency.

“This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behavior.”

— North and Central American soccer’s governing body Concacaf — which includes the three co-hosts of this year’s World Cup, Canada, Mexico and the USA — does not hold back either in a broadside aimed at Infantino.

“A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative.”

— Concacaf throws down the gauntlet, its president Victor Montagliani is widely cited as the favored candidate to oppose Infantino.

“The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game.”

— Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) who finished runner-up to Infantino in the 2016 election.

“Together with UEFA and other confederations, we must ensure that a fundamentally different culture takes hold at FIFA — a culture where, above all, decisions are once again discussed and made by members within the governing bodies.”

— The German soccer federation (DFB).

“It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart.”

— England’s Football Association (FA).

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

— Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, president of the Jordanian Football Association and who ran against Infantino in 2016, accuses FIFA of withholding money owed unless he supported Infantino in his re-election bid.  

“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”

— The Welsh FA (FAW) officially withdraws its support for Infantino— joined publicly at least by Sweden, Serbia and Finland.

FIFA insiders

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.”

— Legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, appointed in 2019 by Infantino as Chief of Global Football Development. Despite his denial he is among those individuals, listed in UEFA’s lawyer’s letter, instructed to keep all ‘Relevant Materials’ pertinent to the plan.